Harris criticizes Speaker Mike Johnson for saying the GOP could repeal the CHIPS law

Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday criticized Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., for his comment that Republicans could try to repeal the CHIPS and Science Acts if they take control of Congress in the upcoming election.

“I also want to address the comments that the speaker of the House made recently,” Harris told reporters in Milwaukee. “It's just further evidence of everything that I've actually been talking about for months, about (former President Donald) Trump's intention to implement the 2025 project.”

“We've spoken repeatedly about this – and the American people know what's in it – we've spoken repeatedly about their intention to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Now the CHIPS Act must be repealed,” Harris added.

Her comments came a day after Johnson made the controversial comment at an event in New York with politically endangered Rep. Brandon Williams, R-N.Y. Asked whether Republicans would try to repeal the CHIPS law if they win the election, Johnson replied, “I assume we probably will,” according to a video posted by a local journalist.

Johnson's statement led to an awkward exchange, with Williams standing next to him and disagreeing. “The CHIPS Act has a huge impact here,” Williams said, promising to remind Johnson “day and night” of the law’s importance.

Johnson responded by praising Williams: “If this is important to your district, you need this man to represent it.”

Not long after the clip began circulating, Johnson walked back his comment, saying in a statement: “As I have further explained and made clear, I fully support Micron coming to Central NY and the CHIPS Act does not stand.” on the agenda.” Repeal. On the contrary, there could be legislation that further streamlines and improves the bill’s primary purpose – eliminating its costly regulations and Green New Deal requirements.”

Williams said in a statement that he spoke with Johnson after the event and that the speaker “apologized profusely and said he misunderstood the question.”

Later at Saturday's news conference, Harris continued to criticize Johnson and Republicans, saying the speaker retracted his comment “because it's not popular and their agenda is not popular.”

“And that's why people are coming out in their thousands, in their tens of thousands, to talk about an agenda that's actually designed to advance it,” the vice president added.

She was not the first Democrat to attack Johnson over his comments.

“Wow – Mike Johnson confirms he and Trump would repeal the CHIPS Act, which invests in new plants and manufacturing in PA, MI, NC, GA, AZ and creates thousands of jobs,” Harris spokesman Ian Sams posted Friday on X.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., also wrote down

Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly's spokesman Jacob Peters also criticized Johnson, writing in a post on X: “He didn't misunderstand anything. His only mistake was being honest.”

The CHIPS Act was passed by Congress on a bipartisan basis and signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2022.

It provided $280 billion in new funding to boost domestic research and manufacturing of semiconductors and chips. In addition, funds were provided for other science, technology and engineering programs.

According to the Commerce Department, the CHIPS and Science Act resulted in $53 billion in spending on semiconductors; $30 billion in private sector investment spanning 23 projects and 15 states; 16 new semiconductor factories and approximately 115,000 new manufacturing and construction jobs by the end of 2024.