COSSA Analyzes Recently Passed CHIPS and Science Act
As previously reported, Congress passed sweeping innovation legislation in late July that promises to make major new investments in the U.S. scientific enterprise and bolster American leadership in cutting-edge research and technology. The Chips and Science Act of 2022 was signed into law by President Biden on August 9 in a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House that included Members of Congress, heads of federal science agencies, technology industry CEOs, and representatives of the scientific community. COSSA Executive Director Wendy Naus had the honor of attending the signing on behalf of the social and behavioral science community.
On August 19, COSSA released an analysis of the CHIPS and Science Act discussing the winding road to enactment and the provisions that are of importance to the social and behavioral science research community. COSSA also produced a detailed section-by-section of the bill.
As its name suggests, the new law is heavily focused on providing incentives to American companies to enhance domestic research, development, and production of semiconductors to allow the U.S. to regain its leadership in this critical technology area. In total, the law will infuse $52.7 billion into American semiconductor research, development, manufacturing, and workforce development. This includes a dedicated $13.2 billion in R&D and workforce development to help create the high-tech American workforce of the future.
In addition, though, the Chips and Science Act contains other provisions aimed at strengthening the broader U.S. research and science enterprise, including the social and behavioral sciences. Provisions related to strengthening federal science agencies (including the National Science Foundation, among other agencies), broadening participation in science, supporting early career researchers, tightening research security, and combatting sexual harassment in science seek to address longstanding issues confronting the scientific community and provide for new, innovative ways to bolster American innovation and STEM workforce development.