To the Editor:

What excellent news to read in NCTW how the North Country economy will soon benefit from the bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law, an accomplishment passed in a Democratic majority Congress and signed into law by President Biden in 2022.
Soon Corning’s Canton facility will be starting an expansion to increase the manufacturing of a specialized glass required in some of the most advanced machinery while making microchips used in our phones, computers, and cars. We might remember the lessons from the pandemic when brand new cars sat unsold waiting for microchips from China, leading to outrageous prices for used vehicles!
Democratic Senators Schumer and Gillibrand can be thanked for this law that provided a $32 million subsidy which will add 130 United Steelworkers Union jobs to the area, in addition to 175 construction jobs. The effects of this will eventually ripple through our economy to those working in restaurants, retail stores, healthcare, carpentry, and etc as additional Corning workers use these businesses and services. It will ripple through families as it offers more of our young people a decent living in the North Country, even benefitting local schools. Further benefits to families will occur as Corning invests in childcare resources in the region.

With all these benefits, it’s puzzling why Rep. Elise Stefanik opposed this bipartisan bill that 24 fellow Republicans supported. With all his talk about jobs and China, etc, it’s equally puzzling why President-elect Trump referred to the bill as “so bad” in his interview with Joe Rogan, and spoke of repealing this law several times while campaigning.
While in Syracuse in early November to support the Republican candidate for Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson was asked about intent to repeal the law and initially said, “I expect we probably will,” something he later felt compelled to apologize for. This left Republican Clay Town Supervisor Damian Ulatowski feeling “petrified,” knowing the impact repeal would have on the future of bringing a Micron microchip facility to Clay.
Reva Goujon, a director and macro geopolitical strategist at Rhodium Group, said the reality is that “chip manufacturing is insanely capital intensive. The U.S. has long been at a disadvantage to its foreign competitors who apply heavier subsidies to this industry.”
“Improving the economy” is more than a campaign slogan. It takes foresight, knowledge, and often investment in, yes, subsidies, something Sen. Schumer recognized as he introduced this beneficial bill.

Mike Zagrobelny, St. Lawrence County Democratic Committee Chair
Ginger Storey-Welch, St. Lawrence County Democratic
Committee Vice-Chair