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08/26/2022 07:55 AMNORTH BRANFORD
In Northford on Aug. 25, Honeywell Fire and Life Safety Senior Site Director Steven Seehusen shared a tour of the facility with U.S. House Appropriations chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) and U.S Representative Jim Himes (D-CT-04), who were there to celebrate the bi-partisan House passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden Aug. 9.
The act will invest $52.7 billion over five years to help boost American semiconductor chip manufacturing, thereby addressing supply chain issues, making the country less reliant on foreign manufacturing, and creating overall lower costs of goods. The CHIPS acronym stands for “Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors.”
A division of Honeywell Building Technologies, North Branford-based Honeywell Fire and Life Safety is a global industry leader in fire solutions. The manufacturing firm produces commercial fire systems, advanced detection, building notification, and software & service.
The congressional visit was meaningful for Honeywell’s employees, said Seehusen. Honeywell has not been immune to recent supply chain issues which have deeply impacted goods requiring semiconductor chips manufactured overseas.
“Having representatives here that are partnering with us and trying to solve the supply chain problems that we’re trying to solve is very valuable and very meaningful,” said Seehusen.
The semiconductor supply chain shortages plaguing the nation drove much of the work which went into developing and supporting the CHIPS and Science Act, said DeLauro.
“Understanding the role that semiconductors play in our lives – they're in our cars, TVs, Smartphones, our household appliances, the fire systems that we’re talking about today; [the] emphasis for us is on domestic manufacturing and how we can continue that; and to manufacture semiconductor chips in the United States and be able to invest in that effort,” said DeLauro.
DeLauro and Himes met with employees during the tour, and later spoke to employees gathered during a press conference, where they discussed how the new law can assist Honeywell.
“It’s been a challenge for all of you, as you pointed out, because of the supply chain...the backlog grew [to] about two and half months' worth of manufacturing production,” DeLauro said. “I think our goal is that we ease that supply chain, create more domestic manufacturing and production and allow for us to grow a domestic economy to create more jobs for people.”
DeLauro noted the law also reinforces U.S. labor laws and “looked at the harmful trade practices that often times result in offshore jobs,” including those in China.
“We are not going to stop fighting for these kinds of reforms to ensure our trade laws support workers instead of leaving them behind, and undermining the role that our workers play in this economy,” said DeLauro.
DeLauro said Honeywell is the “...perfect example of what we meant with our legislation, and what we wanted to do.”
“We applaud the work that you do, and want to make sure that we are investing in the businesses that allow you to have the jobs and the wage-earning power that you deserve for your economic security and that of your family,” she said.
Himes represents District 4’s southwestern corner of the state including Fairfield county. He said Connecticut’s 3 US representatives and 2 US senators work collaboratively to support the growth of manufacturing in this small, but high-cost state.
“Where I come from Fairfield County, [financial services] is an economic engine for the state, [but] this state can’t survive if it were just a financial services state. So we are laser focused on making sure that we are a manufacturing state,” said Himes.
“But we’re really here to celebrate the $53 billion investment that will be the result of the bipartisan CHIPS Act, ” he said, adding the law will also support research and development and, just as important, training.
“It’s about making sure that everybody has access to the right training that will either put you on the floor here right out of high school, or get you through engineering school in a position where you can be an engineer at one of these facilities,” said Himes.
Himes also said he was impressed by the capability and innovation on view during the facility tour of Honeywell.
“The folks on the floor here, they know how to use those $2.25 million machines,” said Himes.
DeLauro noted Himes sits on the House Intelligence Committee, giving him a “...deep understanding of investment in innovation, research and manufacturing.”
On that note, Himes added his thanks to Honeywell.
“I spend a lot of time in the Intelligence community, and to some extent, the Department of Defense [DOD]. Just as much as Sikorsky and Electric Boat and others who are making the actual equipment for DOD, you guys are really at the forefront of protecting this country. So thank you for all that you do.”