WASHINGTON, D.C. — A plot of land in central Ohio’s Licking County could become home to as many as eight Intel computer chip factories, or as few as two, depending on whether Congress can get its act together.

“It’s almost as though we dumbed down our ability to make things in this country, and we cannot do that,” Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D, OH-9) told Spectrum News.

That’s how the longtime Toledo Democrat felt Congress has handled manufacturing in America over the years.

It’s why she joined all Ohio Democrats in enthusiastically voting for the COMPETES Act in February, a sweeping piece of legislation House Democrats wrote to inject billions into manufacturing and the supply chain to compete against countries like China.

Included in the bill is what’s called the CHIPS Act, legislation that would spend $52 billion on building computer chips in America.

When the CEO of Intel flew to Ohio in January to announce his company’s initial deal, he said the $20 billion investment in Licking County could grow to $100 billion if lawmakers passed the CHIPS Act.

But all 12 Ohio Republicans in the U.S. House voted against it, even though most support the CHIPS Act and growing Intel’s investment.

Rep. Bill Johnson (R, OH-6), who represents southeast Ohio, argued the bill paid too much attention to Democratic priorities like climate and not enough on China.

“I want some of the elements of the COMPETES Act, but it’s got to come back a lot cleaner than what it was when it left here,” he told Spectrum News.

Before the COMPETES Act, the U.S. Senate passed its own competitiveness bill last summer that included the CHIPS Act. Ohio Senators Sherrod Brown (D) and Rob Portman (R) supported it.

Because the Senate version and House version differ, the two chambers now have to come together for what’s called a conference committee to sort out their differences and get behind one bill.

“I’m very interested in how we treat workers in this,” Brown told Spectrum News. “We’ve got to have protections for workers, whether they want to join a union or not.”

Brown is one of three Ohio lawmakers named to the conference committee, which will convene once Congress returns from its current two-week recess. Portman and Cincinnati GOP Rep. Steve Chabot (OH-1) have also are on it.

While Brown is hoping differences soon are resolved so Intel’s promised investment can grow, Republicans like northwest Ohio Rep. Bob Latta (OH-5) say the language on China and climate needs to be changed in order to get his support.

“You have to look at the total package,” Latta told Spectrum News. “That could be a very small component, when you have these massive disadvantages being put to American businesses out there.”

Congress returns to session the week of April 25.