Senator Young Latest Moves And Updates

Young, Colleagues Meet With HRSA, CMS Officials to Discuss Organ Transplant Modernization and Reform.

U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) issued a statement following a roundtable meeting held with Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Administrator Carole Johnson along with officials from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to discuss efforts to reform and modernize the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN).

“Today bipartisan senators attended a meeting with administration officials to discuss efforts to reform the OPTN on behalf of the thousands of American families waiting on an organ transplant. This meeting marks an important step forward as we partner with the administration and continue our efforts to improve the transplant system. Members pressed CMS and HRSA officials for a more coordinated, transparent, equitable and accountable system with robust enforcement. Administration officials also discussed the progress on implementing an OPTN modernization plan and offered support for the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act, which we will continue to push to pass before the contract process begins this fall. The cost of inaction is unacceptable, as 17 people die every day waiting for a life-saving transplant.”

In May, the senators introduced the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act, which builds on the initiative announced in March by HRSA to modernize the OPTN by breaking up the monopoly contract that has been used to run the network since 1986. A companion bill has been reported by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

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Young, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Maximize CHIPS and Science Act While Maintaining Environmental Protection.

U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), along with U.S. Representatives Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), Scott Peters (D-CA-50), Brandon Williams (R-NY-22), and Colin Allred (D-TX-32), introduced the Building Chips in America Act, which will maximize the opportunity to bring microchip manufacturing back to America while maintaining environmental protections for clean air and water.

Following the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, companies throughout the semiconductor supply chain have announced plans to invest hundreds of billions in new domestic manufacturing projects. The Building Chips in America Act would ensure federal environmental reviews are completed in a timely manner for these microchip projects supported by the CHIPS and Science Act by streamlining approval for projects currently under construction and others that could be delayed, and by providing the Secretary of Commerce greater tools to more effectively and efficiently carry out reviews.  

This will give the administration additional authority to more effectively implement the CHIPS and Science Act and maximize its potential to boost domestic microchip manufacturing, strengthen domestic supply chains, lower costs, and improve national security. 

“The CHIPS and Science Act included manufacturing incentives vital to increasing chip production here in the U.S., protecting our national security interests and boosting our economic security at the same time. However, as implementation proceeds, unnecessary regulatory burdens are threatening to slow down these critical investments in domestic semiconductor manufacturing and pause construction that has already begun,” said Senator Young. “The Building Chips in America Act will cut red tape and solidify our nation’s ability to successfully onshore chip production as quickly as possible.”

“Our CHIPS Law is bringing billions of dollars in investment to Arizona’s microchip manufacturing industry—creating thousands of good-paying jobs, many of which don’t require a four-year degree. The Building Chips in America Act will ensure these critical projects can continue construction on time while protecting our clean air and water,” said Senator Kelly. “I will keep working with my Republican and Democratic colleagues and with Secretary Raimondo and the administration, to ensure the CHIPS Act is implemented to maximize the impact for our economy and our national security.”

“Our nation’s economic and national security demands that we bring back—as quickly as possible—American production of strategic commodities like semiconductors, which requires eliminating the unnecessary bureaucratic red tape that stands in the way,” said Senator Hagerty. “I am pleased to join Senator Kelly in introducing this legislation to speed up these crucial American projects and advance commonsense permitting reform.”

“By investing in Ohio semiconductor manufacturing and Ohio talent, we can restore critical supply chains, help lower costs for Ohioans, and create thousands of jobs,” said Senator Brown. “This legislation will help prevent delays to semiconductor manufacturing projects the CHIPS Act made possible and encourage future investments in American manufacturing.”