S.Amdt. 6345

This amendment, submitted by Mr. Schumer and Mr. Cotton, aims to add a new section (SEC. 885) to bill S. 4784. Its primary purpose is to prohibit the Department of Defense from buying certain semiconductors made on silicon carbide wafers manufactured in the Peoples Republic of China, unless they are commercially available off-the-shelf items.

The amendment adds the following requirements:

• Procurement Restrictions: The Secretary of Defense must update regulations to ban these specific semiconductors, though the Secretary may grant waivers on a case-by-case basis.

• Financial Reviews: The Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense must review and brief congressional defense committees on domestic manufacturers that are critical to the Department of Defense and are struggling due to Chinese exports of these wafers.

• Foundry Evaluation: The Secretary of Defense must provide a briefing on whether major prime contractors should consolidate semiconductor design and fabrication in common commercial foundries to improve quality and scale.

• Interagency Cooperation: The Secretary must share information with the Secretary of Commerce and other agency heads regarding Research and Development for 300mm scale silicon carbide manufacturing to advance power modules and high-voltage technology.

• International Policy: Within 90 days, the Secretary of Defense must create a policy to encourage allied and partner countries to keep Chinese-manufactured silicon carbide wafers out of their critical infrastructure and national security system supply chains.