Commerce Dept. Designates 31 Regional Tech Hubs to Boost American Innovation, Manufacturing and Jobs

Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, applauded the designation by the Department of Commerce of 31 Regional Innovation and Technology Hubs (Tech Hubs), including Spokane-based American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center’s designation as a U.S. tech hub for aerospace materials manufacturing. The Tech Hub program was established by the CHIPS and Science Act, which Sen. Cantwell spearheaded.

Cantwell Opening Statement During CHIPS and Science Implementation Hearing

As a chief architect of the CHIPS and Science Act, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing on the implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act that authorized nearly $250 billion to spur American manufacturing, research and development, create thousands […]

As CHIPS and Science Turns One, Cantwell Calls for New Ways Fed Government Can Collaborate to Meet Semiconductor Workforce and Innovation Demands at DARPA Conference

Today, at the DARPA Electronic Resurgence Initiative Summit, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, called for fostering a new kind of collaboration to maximize the CHIPS and Science Act, outlining three ways the federal government can address workforce training and education to continue leading global innovation.

Senate Commerce Committee Approves 11 Bills, Including Bipartisan Children’s Online Privacy Legislation

During an Executive Session today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation approved 11 bipartisan bills, including legislation aimed at protecting children’s online privacy: the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). Other important bills approved included the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, the ORBITS Act, the TICKET Act, the COOL Online Act and several manufacturing bills. These bills now head to the Senate floor.

Cantwell: With New Federal Funding, Community Colleges Can Be “Backbone” of STEM Education

On Friday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, visited Yakima Valley College (YVC) for a roundtable discussion about STEM education opportunities. Sen. Cantwell and YVC faculty and students discussed the hands-on STEM education opportunities available at YVC, as well as new federal funding for programs aimed at Hispanic and first-generation college students unlocked by the recently-passed CHIPS & Science Act. The roundtable was followed by a tour of YVC’s STEM education facilities, including an on-campus lab where students are growing bacteria as part as an ongoing study into antibiotics.

Cantwell Says CHIPS and Science Act Key to Advancing U.S. Computing Technologies & Building the Workforce to Drive it

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, underscored the need to fully fund the CHIPS and Science Act STEM education programs and build a competitive, highly-skilled workforce – the workforce needed for American leadership in key areas like artificial intelligence, quantum science, distributed ledger technologies and the semiconductors that power the computer industry.

Cantwell Statement on President Biden’s Signing of CHIPS and Science Act Into Law During White House Ceremony

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, attended today’s signing by President Biden of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 at a White House ceremony. Sen. Cantwell was a lead architect of the law and successfully rallied a last-minute bipartisan push to secure the inclusion of historic investments in scientific research and development.