S.Amdt. 6570

This amendment, submitted by Mr. Schumer and Mr. Cotton, aims to add a new section to bill S. 4784 regarding the prohibition on acquisition of certain silicon carbide-based semiconductors manufactured in China.

The amendment seeks to make the following changes:

• Procurement Restrictions: It requires the Secretary of Defense to change regulations to stop the procurement of semiconductors manufactured on silicon carbide wafers from the Peoples Republic of China, unless they are commercially available off-the-shelf items. The Secretary may be given the authority to issue waivers on a case-by-case basis.

• Financial Instrument Briefing: The Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense must review and brief congressional defense committees within 180 days of the Act's enactment regarding domestic manufacturers of silicon carbide wafers that are critical to the Department of Defense and facing challenges from Chinese exports.

• Common Foundries Briefing: Within 180 days of the section's enactment, the Secretary of Defense must brief congressional defense committees on whether encouraging major prime contractors to consolidate silicon carbide semiconductor design and fabrication in common commercial foundries would improve quality and create economies of scale.