MATSUI LEADS EFFORT TO BRING CHIPS ACT FUNDING, REGIONAL TECH HUB TO SACRAMENTO
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), co-author of the CHIPS Act,sent a letter toAssistant Secretary of Commerce Alejandra Castillo at the Economic Development Administration (EDA), encouraging her to consider Sacramento as she implements the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs Program. The program was established by the CHIPS and Science Act, which was passed last year and signed by President Biden, and will establish 20 Tech Hubs across the country.
“Sacramento’s unique combination of a highly educated workforce, academic institutions, geography, and public – private collaboration positions it well to maximize the impact of the Tech Hubs program,” wrote Congresswoman Matsui. “Sacramento has the right mix of people, institutions, and drive to advance American innovation for years to come.”
Congresswoman Matsui introduced the original CHIPS Act in June 2020 alongside Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Mark Warner (D-VA). She was a leader in Congress working to ensure the CHIPS and Science Act passed last year. As part of that effort, she successfully secured $52 billion to boost high tech manufacturing and reassert American leadership in the semiconductor industry. She has been a national leader as the legislation is being enacted, making sure that the rollout of the bill’s programs goes smoothly and advocating for resources for the Sacramento region.
Congresswoman Matsui has also long been a champion of promoting innovation and equity in technology and serves as Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, and Chair of the Congressional High-Tech and Spectrum Caucuses. As the Tech Hub program criteria continues to be finalized, Congresswoman Matsui is advocating for Sacramento to be at the forefront of the discussion during the rollout.
A copy of the letter can be found below and HERE.
Dear Assistant Secretary Castillo,
I write today to encourage you to consider Sacramento as you continue to implement the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) program. Sacramento’s unique combination of a highly educated workforce, academic institutions, geography, and public – private collaboration positions it well to maximize the impact of the Tech Hubs program.
The CHIPS and Science Act (P.L. 117-167) established the Tech Hubs program as part of a bipartisan package to reassert America’s global innovation leadership. As the House Democratic lead of the CHIPS for America Act, I was heavily involved in advancing this package in Congress and remain committed to implementing it successfully. The Tech Hubs program was designed to strengthen America’s innovation pipeline while increasing geographic diversity in R&D. Given this Congressional mandate, I believe Sacramento would make an ideal location for a Tech Hub.
Recently the Economic Innovation Group (EIG), a bipartisan public policy organization dedicated to forging a more dynamic and inclusive American economy, conducted an independent study to make recommendations on the 20 best locations for the Tech Hubs as required by the CHIPS and Science Act. The study used a comprehensive and data-driven analysis of human capital, potential to generate and commercialize innovative technologies, industrial composition, and proximity to other large cities, among other factors. Given the strength of Sacramento’s innovation-edge, the independent EIG study included it on its list for the top 20 Tech Hub locations. This study backs up what my constituents already know to be true: Sacramento has the right mix of people, institutions, and drive to advance American innovation for years to come.
As you continue your important work implementing the Tech Hubs program, I strongly urge you to consider selecting the Sacramento region to host a Tech Hub. I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to working with you to successfully implement the Tech Hubs program.
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