CHIPS Training in America Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4810
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-17: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-08T17:36:47Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation establishes the "CHIPS Training in America Act of 2026" to strengthen the domestic microelectronics workforce by creating a grant program for education and training in semiconductor manufacturing and related fields, while updating existing laws to support coordination, standardization, and strategy development in this area.
Key Provisions
- Amends the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 to authorize a single public online clearinghouse for microelectronics education and workforce information.
- Updates the National Defense Authorization Act to allow the National Semiconductor Technology Center to create standardized competency-based degrees, credentials, and certificates for semiconductor workforce programs.
- Requires development of a 5-year national strategy on microelectronics workforce development, including annual objectives, progress metrics, roles for education systems, funding plans, and alignment with other federal initiatives; this involves the Secretaries of Labor, Education, and Veterans Affairs.
- Creates a competitive grant program administered by the National Semiconductor Technology Center, providing up to $7 million per award for up to 5 years to eligible partnerships (community colleges, vocational institutions, career and technical schools, industry partners, and state or local governments) for workforce programs in semiconductor-related fields.
- Mandates a 50 percent federal cost share, priority for areas with growing microelectronics sectors that coordinate with state and local workforce boards, and annual reporting on participant numbers, completion rates, and employment outcomes.
- Prohibits federal agencies from creating duplicative microelectronics education clearinghouses.
Significant Changes to Existing Law This bill modifies the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 and the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 by adding workforce-specific authorities, expanding subcommittee membership for strategy development, and introducing a new grant section (9906A) funded from existing CHIPS appropriations without new spending authority.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Increases coordination among the National Semiconductor Technology Center, Departments of Commerce, Labor, Education, and Veterans Affairs, with added reporting and strategy obligations.
- Citizens: Expands access to training programs for individuals facing employment barriers, potentially increasing skilled job opportunities in semiconductor industries.
- International relations: Supports U.S. efforts to build domestic semiconductor capacity, which may indirectly affect global supply chain dependencies but does not directly alter foreign policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Eligible educational institutions such as community colleges and vocational schools.
- Semiconductor and microelectronics companies participating in partnerships.
- State, tribal, and local governments involved in workforce development.
- Federal agencies including the National Semiconductor Technology Center and relevant cabinet departments.
- Individuals seeking training in semiconductor-related fields, particularly those with barriers to employment.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill operates within existing federal authority under commerce and defense-related statutes, with no apparent constitutional conflicts; it emphasizes public reporting and coordination but does not introduce new regulatory mandates or alter state-federal power balances.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-17: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2026-06-17: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- CHIPS Training in America Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-17 — PDF (13 pages)