Big and bold A couple of weeks back an emergency funding proposal was brought forward by US Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer that will approve $52 billion in spending to significantly boost US semiconductor chip production and research over five years. With bipartisan support this proposal will be included in a much bigger bill that is set to approve $120 billion of spending on basic US and advanced technology research in a bid to better compete with China. Schumer said that with US manufacturers suffering badly from the on-going chip shortage it was critical that the economy didnât continue relying on foreign processors. âThis amendment will make sure that we don't have to," he said.