SENSE OF CONGRESS ON METALCASTING AND CERAMIC SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE INDUSTRIES.

SEC. 272. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON METALCASTING AND CERAMIC SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE INDUSTRIES. (a) Metalcasting Industry.—It is the sense of Congress that— (1) the health and viability of the metalcasting industry of the United States are at serious risk; and (2) the Secretary of Defense should seriously consider providing funds, from the funds made available pursuant to section 201, for research and development activities of the metalcasting industry, including the following activities: (A) Development of casting technologies and techniques. (B) Improvement of technology transfer within the metalcasting industry in the United States. (C) Improvement of training for the metalcasting industry workforce. (b) Ceramic Semiconductor Package Industry.—It is the sense of Congress that— (1) the health and viability of the ceramic semiconductor package industry of the United States are at serious risk, as demonstrated by the action plan relating to the ceramic semiconductor package industry issued by the Secretary of Commerce on August 15, 1993; (2) advanced ceramic semiconductor packages are critical components under section 107 of the Defense Production Act (50 U.S.C. App. 2077); (3) the technologies used in producing ceramic and advanced ceramic semiconductor packages are dual-use technologies; and (4) the Secretary of Defense should provide funds for support of the domestic ceramic semiconductor package industry through the following types of activities: (A) Research and development. (B) Procurement by the Department of Defense of ceramic semiconductor packages made in the United States. 107 STAT. 1616 (C) Assistance to the industry in meeting qualification specifications of the Department of Defense for procurement solicitations.