DOWNINGTOWN, PA — U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) led a panel discussion today at Delaware County Community College’s Downingtown Center on the significant impact the multi-billion-dollar U.S. CHIPS and Science Act is expected to have on local manufacturers of semiconductors, and the Act’s education, training, and job benefits to community college students. CHIPS stands for Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors.

Signed into law last year, the Act provides $52.7 billion to help U.S. semiconductor manufacturers become the best in the world so that the United States is less dependent on foreign nations for the ubiquitous semiconductors used in everything from electronics to autos. The Act includes $11 billion for semiconductor workforce development, $200 million to create a CHIPS for America Workforce and Education Fund, and $81 million for the National Science Foundation’s critical infrastructure workforce training program.

With dozens of college and high school students in attendance, Representative Houlahan moderated the panel discussion. Panelists included: Marina Zhavoronkova, senior advisor for Workforce Strategy at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s CHIPS Program Office; Brian Regli, executive director of Critical Investments for Governor Shapiro’s administration; Delaware County Community College President Marta Yera Cronin, Ed.D.; and Karen Kozachyn, Ed.D., College vice president for Workforce and Economic Development.

“Working together, President Biden and my colleagues and I in Congress passed the CHIPS and Science Act to reignite manufacturing in America — and it’s working. Through this generational investment, we are building the resilient, STEM-focused workforce we need to strengthen our economic and national security,” said Representative Houlahan. “We saw today how STEM education will support these good-paying jobs and increase domestic manufacturing of critically needed semiconductor chips. Delaware County Community College’s Downingtown campus provides an amazing incubator space for our students, our area businesses, and more. Our technological landscape may be constantly changing, but our students are ready to meet this challenge and lead the nation in semiconductor manufacturing.”

Following the panel discussion, guests went on a tour of the Downingtown Center, including its STEM Wing, a 16,000-square-foot facility that includes state-of-the-art biology, chemistry, earth and space science laboratories. “STEM education is vital to the future of the region and America,” said College President Dr. Cronin, adding that the College also is a regional leader in workforce training and closely collaborates with business and industry in Chester County.

Watch a video recording of the event here.

Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader. She represents Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. She is the recipient of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award which “recognizes members who demonstrate the bipartisan leadership and constructive governing necessary to move our country forward” and the Congressional Management Foundation’s 2022 Democracy Award for best Constituent Services in Congress.

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