WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Apr. 3, 2024) – Republican gubernatorial candidate and former Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers today released the following statement on SK Hynix investing nearly $4 billion in a semiconductor packaging facility in West Lafayette and U.S. Senator Mike Braun’s hypocrisy in attending the announcement for a photo op:
“Today’s announcement is a direct result of Indiana playing to win, a paradigm shift we implemented during my tenure as Indiana’s secretary of commerce,” stated Brad Chambers. “By leaning into our strengths, launching the AMPD semiconductor task force and leveraging Purdue’s best-in-the-nation semiconductor program, we’re now securing high-wage companies and careers that will help us build an economy of the future and keep our kids and grandkids here in Indiana. There’s more to do, and I’m ready to finish what we started.”
“Let’s not forget: If U.S. Senator Mike Braun had his way, today’s announcement would have never happened,” he added. “Despite his campaign pledge in 2018 to bring jobs back to Indiana, he voted against the CHIPS Act, against Indiana’s economic future and against thousands of high-wage careers for Hoosiers, just like the ones announced today. His decision today to show up for a photo op made possible by the very bill he voted against represents the worst of Washington. Indiana deserves better.”
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BACKGROUND
U.S. Senator Mike Braun voted against the Chips and Science Act.
As Indiana’s former secretary of commerce, Brad Chambers strategically evaluated the state’s economic infrastructure and determined that Indiana’s natural resources, workforce, and deep manufacturing expertise could and should make Indiana an important player in the semiconductor industry. He then launched the Accelerating Microelectronics Production and Development (AMPD) semiconductor task force, the state’s first-ever microelectronics task force dedicated to bolstering Indiana’s efforts to become a leader in the microelectronics industry and leveraging the Chips and Science Act.
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