Applied Material Hosts Congressman Lamar Smith

Applied Materials recently hosted Congressman Lamar Smith, representative for the 21st Congressional District of Texas, at the company’s Austin facility for an in-depth overview of the semiconductor industry, global challenges and opportunities ahead and Applied’s leadership role in the industry.

Congressman Smith chairs the influential Science, Space and Technology Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, which has jurisdiction over important programs within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Science Foundation.  The Committee oversees the authorization of agency budgets of $39 billion, with a primary focus on research and development and emerging technologies.

Congressman Smith met a team of executives led by Rick Gesing, Vice President, Semiconductor Manufacturing & Supply Chain at

Applied Materials to discuss the committee’s important role in authorizing the President’s National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI).  Applied has been a leading advocate for public-private partnership funding for 450nm tool development as part of the NNMI.  The group also discussed the need and significance for federal investments in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education funding and high-skilled immigration reform.  Chairman Smith is the former Chairman of the House Judiciary committee which has jurisdiction over high-skilled immigration reform.

The visit concluded with a facility tour to highlight and see firsthand some of the critical innovations underway at Applied Materials.

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