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American Made Advocacy: Success in Washington Requires Patience, Persistence, and Sustained Focus

At the end of the year, it’s good to celebrate success, identify room for improvement, and plan carefully for the changes the new year will bring.

This was a great year for the ongoing advocacy efforts for the PCB industry. Our numbers tell the story. PCBAA membership topped 65, we have more than 5,000 followers on social media, generated 450 social media posts, had more than 50 Capitol Hill meetings with members and staff, influenced PCB legislation, held our largest annual meeting to date, placed 12 opinion editorials in major publications across the country, and participated in four industry trade shows.

Another reason we had a good year was our partnership with members and partner organizations like IPC and other interested groups who have helped us spread the word that existing legislation and policies don’t support our industry.

After our productive year, it’s important to position our industry for the changes to come. We expect that a new administration and majorities in the House and Senate will require a new approach to industrial policy. I’m optimistic that there will be a continuing bipartisan consensus supporting American manufacturing and a secure and resilient supply chain.

The 119th Congress is an opportunity to introduce our issues to new leaders in Congress as well as leaders in the agencies of government. Reaching policymakers regardless of their party affiliation is at the heart of our mission to educate, advocate, and legislate.

We will hit the ground running in 2025. The new Congress is expected to take up a comprehensive tax reform package that should include the 25% tax credit for the purchase of American-made PCBs and substrates. I believe that with this tax credit, electronics manufacturers will see a positive impact on their bottom line and mitigate supply chain risk by choosing domestic sourcing.

Since no one can predict the effect of tariffs on global supply chains, the U.S. must be ready to take up the slack. As we have seen with semiconductors, increasing domestic production is possible with the right incentives. Being realistic about the time needed to grow our capacity makes legislative and policy action all the more urgent.

Remember that the semiconductor industry spent almost five years to secure significant government investment. Success in Washington requires patience, persistence, and sustained focus. That is why we need all our members and allied organizations to pull together to educate and advocate for the domestic manufacturing of PCBs and IC substrates. It has taken us decades to reach where we are today; we cannot wait decades to reverse this vital part of the microelectronics ecosystem.

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