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WASHINGTON — A bill to boost semiconductor production in the United States has managed to do nearly the unthinkable — unite the democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders and the fiscally conservative right.

Bringing more semiconductor production to the U.S. could help counter the global chip shortage, a survey by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers showed.

SAVANNAH, Ga. — The state of Georgia and local governments are giving $1.8 billion in tax breaks and other incentives to Hyundai Motor Group in exchange for the automaker building its first U.S. plant dedicated to electric vehicles near Savannah, according to the signed agreement disclosed July 22.

A group of California truck drivers trying to force changes to the AB 5 state labor law brought the Port of Oakland to another standstill on July 22, continuing a multiday chokehold on one of the West Coast’s busiest shipping hubs.

About 450 dockworkers did not report to work at California’s third-busiest port, Port of Oakland, July 21 as truckers protesting the AB 5 gig-work law blocked access to the operation for a fourth day.

The Senate’s bipartisan bill to strengthen the nation’s technology sector in the face of Chinese competition was estimated July 21 to increase U.S. budget deficits by $79 billion over a decade if enacted.

Large motor carriers and their trade associations tend to express general support for plans by federal regulators to implement a speed limiter requirement for large trucks. On the other hand, independent owner-operators are overwhelmingly opposed.

Legislation designed to increase parking access for truck drivers nationwide was easily approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure panel on July 20.

California’s third-busiest port, the Port of Oakland, shut down some of its gates and marine terminals for a third day July 20 as truckers protesting the AB 5 gig-work law that could take 70,000 drivers off the road blocked access to the operation.

Efforts to boost the number of younger drivers in the trucking workforce are underway, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told a congressional committee on July 19.