Harris visits Hemlock Semiconductor
semiconductor

Harris visits Hemlock Semiconductor

SAGINAW CO., Mich. (WNEM) – Vice President Kamala Harris was in mid-Michigan on Monday, Oct. 28, making a final push in the last full week before Election Day.

Harris visited Hemlock Semiconductor, touting the more than $300 million proposed investment to expand operations.

“How do we think about the future of work, the future of the workforce, the future of American industry, in a way that understands that we should be optimistic about what’s possible,” Harris said.

She spoke with workers at Hemlock Semiconductor, highlighting federal investment in the area and the importance of manufacturing jobs as she makes her case to Michigan voters, with just over a week until the election.

Hemlock Semiconductor already has a large footprint in the market, which is something workers demonstrated to Harris during her tour of the plant on Monday.

Harris asked workers about their product, how it’s used, and their background in manufacturing. She said what’s happening in mid-Michigan is exactly her, President Joe Biden’s, and U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee’s vision for the CHIPS and Science Act.

“We understand who we are as a nation. We take great pride in being a leader on so many things, and we have a tradition of that. But I think what we know as Americans is that we cannot rest on tradition; we have to constantly be on top of what is happening, what is current, and investing in industries of the future as well as honoring the traditions and the industries that have built up America’s economy, and what you are all doing here is exactly that,” the vice president said.

As TV5 has previously reported, $325 million from the CHIPS and Science Act are going to Hemlock Semiconductor to help the manufacturer build a new facility to produce a critical material used in electronics and solar panels, which is the only plant of its kind headquartered in the United States.

“Look, we gotta win the competition for the 21st century. We’re not going to have China beat us in the competition for the 21st century. And that’s about then doing the work that Corning’s going to be doing manufacturing those solar panels together with the work that you’re doing here,” Harris said.

Harris also stressed the importance of jobs in manufacturing and jobs that don’t require formal education.

If elected, she said she plans to immediately reassess federal jobs to look at which ones don’t require a college degree and create meaningful public investment in private industries to create jobs.

“If we’re really going to strengthen America, we have to understand that we can do many things at once. We can invest in industries of the future, while also knowing, look, folks don’t want to leave home to get a good paying job. And that job should be well enough paying so you are able to buy a home and raise a family,” Harris said.

The stop in Thomas Township comes as time ticks to Election Day. Michigan has largely been considered a battleground state and one to win in order to get to the White House.

“There is a choice that the American public, a very serious choice presented in the next eight days. And as much as anything, it is a question about what is the direction in the future that we want for our country,” Harris said.

Harris will also host a rally in Michigan Monday evening in Ann Arbor, where she’ll be joined by her vice-presidential running mate Tim Walz.

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