Staff Reports
President Biden is preparing to sign a new bill that gives a giant middle finger to federal environmental reviews for select semiconductor projects, a move that has set off a delightful schism among Democrats. Some party members are grumbling, claiming this legislation undermines decades-old environmental protections as if those protections were the Holy Grail. But let’s be honest, the Biden administration seems more interested in boosting semiconductor production and bringing jobs back to the good old USA than worrying about environmental paperwork.
This decision marks a notable departure from the collective concerns of the Democrats, who insist the bill is unnecessary and disrupts the supposed harmony between industry needs and environmental protection. Of course, the White House is putting on a bright face about it, promising benefits for “Americans across the country” while waving around the banner of environmental protection like it’s the latest fashion trend. Apparently, there’s no contradiction in jeopardizing longstanding regulations while simultaneously claiming to protect communities.
#CHIPS
Biden to Sign Bill Easing Environmental Regs for Chip Manufacturing
House passed the bill Monday over strong objections of key Democratshttps://t.co/MyhgT0QuXx— Breakfast Media (@BroadbandCensus) September 25, 2024
The narrative here is familiar. The CHIPS and Science Act, hailed as a monumental achievement for the Biden administration, aimed to shower billions in subsidies upon the domestic semiconductor manufacturing sector. This act, however, tied these projects up in the federal environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act. Conservatives understand that red tape can strangle progress, so the subsequent bill, known as the Building Chips in America Act, has loosened those chains, streamlining processes and wiping some projects clean from the review slate.
The Senate has unanimously supported this move, and it sailed through the House largely thanks to Republican efforts and a handful of Democrats who must have had a moment of rationality. However, over 100 Democrats apparently voted against it, preferring to clutch their environmental pearls rather than support a pathway to job creation and national security. New Jersey Representative Frank Pallone was particularly vocal in his discontent, labeling the bill an unwarranted attack on environmental laws that supposedly safeguard all communities. Apparently, to some Democrats, the prospect of a thriving semiconductor industry is less important than creating barriers to its growth.
While environmental groups such as the Sierra Club tried to convince Biden to veto the bill—an appeal that landed with all the grace of a lead balloon—others within the Democratic Party have finally recognized the importance of getting the U.S. back in the semiconductor game against China. Senators basking in bipartisan glory emphasized that curbing unnecessary delays is key to bringing manufacturing jobs home. Who knew that at least some Democrats were capable of seeing the bigger picture? In this age of constant division, perhaps there’s hope they can unite—at least on the basics needed for economic progress.
