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American Made Advocacy: The U.S. Economy Needs Trusted PCBs

As we head into the final days of summer, we find ourselves amid a turbulent political environment. Let’s not get distracted. No matter which party prevails in November, America’s PCB industry needs policies and legislation that bring manufacturing back to our shores. What can we do in this challenging time? We can raise our voices individually and collectively to educate elected officials about the dangers of reliance on foreign suppliers and a lack of domestic manufacturing capacity.

While it is a challenge to keep our industry top of mind in the storm of national election news, we should continue telling elected representatives that PCBs and substrates are on the ballot in their districts. Now is the time for every PCB company to reach out and invite members and staff to visit their facilities. PCBAA offers our members a toolkit to make this happen, with sample communications and guidance for elected representative visits.

Beyond Congress, PCBAA is strengthening relationships in the departments of Commerce, Homeland Security, Energy, and Defense. Our goal in the year ahead is to expand the industrial policy conversation already underway to include critical infrastructure. Just as the Defense Industrial Base must have trusted and secure microelectronics, so should our energy grid, air traffic control systems, transportation systems, and the other 16 sectors that the U.S. government considers critical. These are the sectors in which incapacitation or destruction would have devasting effects on our economy and, indeed, our way of life.

Expanding the narrative in Washington has the potential to create the sustained demand signal we need to reinvigorate our industry and compete on a level playing field with nations where decades of subsidies caused the exodus of manufacturing and know-how from our shores. The federal government can shape the PCB market with its purchasing power, policies, and legislation.

As the new chair of PCBAA, I will spend time this fall in Washington talking with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle. Every company involved in manufacturing, assembly, and critical materials should contact their elected representative, inviting them to tour your facilities and asking them to co-sponsor H.R. 3249, the Protecting Circuit Boards and Substrates (PCBS) Act.

We must put a human face on our issues. Otherwise, we are just another special interest group asking for money. PCBAA and our partners at IPC will continue to educate, advocate, and support legislation to restore American manufacturing.

Our political power in Washington is derived from the relevance of our issues and the strength of our team. If you have not already done so, now is the time to join PCBAA and help us change the game.

This column originally appeared in the August 2024 issue of PCB007 Magazine.