Malvern: U.S. Secretary Of Commerce Calls More Manufacturing Jobs

MALVERN— U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo joined Pennsylvania lawmakers Wednesday touring a display of semiconductors.

The inspection of semiconductors in the lobby of the corporate headquarters of Vishay Intertechnology, Malvern, occurred before a roundtable discussion by corporate and government leaders of how to increase semiconductor manufacturing in the United States.

Semiconductors are used in electronic devices, including mobile phones, home appliances, and autos.

Concerned about the supply shortage of semiconductors, U.S. 6th District Rep. Chrissy Houlahan invited the secretary of commerce to visit Vishay, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of semiconductors.

The lawmakers joined Vishay leaders and Delaware County Community College representatives for a roundtable discussion on the state of the brains behind technology used in our everyday lives.

Raimondo, former governor of Rhode Island, is focused on increasing education to provide training for jobs to keep the United States ahead in the technology field.

“When a student has a job, the student is more likely to stick it out and get a degree,” Raimondo said.

Vishay has 22,000 employees worldwide.

“Semiconductors are known as the brains of modern technology,” Dave Valletta, executive vice president of sales at Vishay, said. “To survive, we have to stay on the cutting edge of technology.”

While the first semiconductors were developed in Silicon Valley, Taiwan has become the leading manufacturer of semiconductors.

“Bring it back home,” Houlahan, who represents all of Chester County and a portion of Berks County, said. “We have to make sure we are working very quickly.”

Houlahan supported the Protecting Semiconductor Supply Chain Materials Authorization Act, which would require federal agencies to work together to assess the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the availability of semiconductor chips.

About half the world’s supply of Neon used for semiconductors is supplied from companies based in Ukraine. The bill is pending in the Senate.

Brittany Smith, 25, a student at Delaware County Community College, said she is thankful for the opportunity to learn computer technology.

“I feel hope,” she said. “The computer program is a perfect skill to get a job.”