IPC’s Public Policy Impact in 2024
By Rich Cappetto, Senior Director, IPC North American Government Relations
The most popular and enduring metaphor for the public policy process is sausage-making because it is a messy process with sometimes mysterious and unappealing ingredients. Throughout the year, the IPC Government Relations team keeps an eye on the sausage-making so you don’t have to, although we do need your help in the kitchen. Fortunately, over the last year, we’ve seen evidence that our collaborative efforts are working, setting the table for more progress going forward.
A series of major actions in the United States in 2024 signaled a trend toward greater support of the domestic electronics industry – building on the remarkably successful year we had in 2023.
As the Chips and Science Act of 2022 was implemented, IPC urged the U.S. Government to move from a “chips only” approach to a “silicon-to-systems” strategy. As a testament to our growing reputation and influence, IPC’s expertise was increasingly sought out by policymakers as they strategized how to secure supply chains for national defense and critical infrastructure. IPC brought the industry’s voice to the highest levels of the U.S. government on Capitol Hill, at the White House, and across the executive branch at agencies including the departments of Commerce, Labor, and Defense.
Here are a few of our most notable successes of 2024.
Advanced Packaging: The National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP) cited IPC’s 2021 report on advanced packaging in the agency’s published strategy to build a domestic advanced packaging ecosystem.
Defense Industrial Base: The Senate Armed Services Committee included IPC-recommended language in its report on the National Defense Authorization Act, directing the Department of Defense to brief Congress as to how it proposes to close industrial base gaps in electronics manufacturing.
Defense PCBs: The Senate Appropriations Committee included IPC’s recommended language in its report on the FY25 defense spending bill, allocating $45 million in the Defense Production Act account specifically for printed circuit board manufacturing. The report also encouraged ongoing prioritization of PCB manufacturing and future-year funding.
Grasstops Advocacy: Six IPC members met with more than 14 congressional offices during Impact Day 2024, including influential Members of the appropriations, commerce, armed services, and tax committees and congressional leadership to advocate for the domestic electronics industry.
Workforce and CHIPS: IPC CEO John W. Mitchell was invited to represent the electronics industry at a White House roundtable discussion on workforce development and the CHIPS Act with the Director of the National Science Foundation and others.
Apprenticeship: IPC submitted formal comments to the U.S. Department of Labor, opposing a 700-page regulation that would have added enormous administrative burdens on employers seeking to make use of apprenticeships to build their workforce. The proposed regulation was later withdrawn.
AI Data Centers: IPC participated in a research project with the U.S. Department of Commerce to identify risks in the supply chain for AI Data Centers. IPC’s report was referenced in the department’s subsequent findings, which recommended federal support to stimulate the domestic PCB and PCB assembly sectors.
Government Grants: IPC built the association’s first-ever integrated grants program and applied for nearly $70 million in government funding opportunities to drive workforce growth, secure critical supply chains, and advance domestic manufacturing capabilities. IPC’s grants effort builds on its advocacy by ensuring the organization is positioned to capture the strategic investments that will flow from our policy wins.
What were the year’s most meaningful U.S. government policy wins to you?
Rest assured we will continue building on these efforts and relationships in 2025 and beyond, as we do expect a continued focus on building domestic manufacturing and shoring up critical supply chains.
