U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) issued a statement following the U.S. Department of Commerce’s announcement of a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) with Coherent, a company set to receive up to $33 million in direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act. This investment is part of the CHIPS for America program, which Cornyn authored to restore semiconductor manufacturing to U.S. soil and create jobs.
The funding will support Coherent’s expansion of its 700,000-square-foot facility in Sherman, Texas, where it plans to establish the world’s first 150mm indium phosphide (InP) manufacturing line. The project is expected to create approximately 70 new jobs in the region.
Senator Cornyn emphasized the national security and economic benefits of investing in semiconductor manufacturing. “The chipmaking capabilities these resources will enable at Coherent in Sherman will help the U.S. reclaim its leadership role in the critically important semiconductor industry,” he said.
The CHIPS for America Act, which became law in 2021, aims to boost advanced chip manufacturing, research, and development, ensuring a secure supply chain and creating American jobs. The CHIPS and Science Act, signed into law in 2022, allocated $52 billion to support these efforts, including funding for semiconductor fabrication, testing, and workforce development.
Earlier this year, Senator Cornyn visited Coherent’s Sherman facility, highlighting the region’s growing semiconductor industry. The Texas CHIPS Act, signed into law by Governor Abbott in June 2023, works alongside federal initiatives to strengthen the state's role in the semiconductor sector.
