AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology announced that its Board of Directors sent a letter to the U.S. congressional leadership requesting action on a bipartisan manufacturing agenda in 2014.
The letter urges House and Senate leaders to consider legislation where there is common ground and points to several initiatives with bipartisan support that would strengthen U.S. manufacturing if enacted into law, including reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act; renewal of trade promotion authority; and passage of tax, regulatory and immigration reforms.
“There are plenty of places where Congress can agree,” said AMT President Douglas K. Woods. “The National Network for Manufacturing Innovation bill is one example. It now includes a requirement that the President establish a national manufacturing strategy. AMT has been advocating for exactly that through its Manufacturing Mandate for the past several years.”
The Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act (RAMI) recently passed the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. The bipartisan bill, introduced by Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Roy Blunt (R-MO), would establish a national network of regional manufacturing institutes modeled after America Makes (NAMII), the pilot institute in Youngstown, Ohio which is focused on additive manufacturing and 3D printing.
The Administration announced three new institutes earlier this year, including the Digital Manufacturing and Design Institute (DMDI) in Chicago. AMT is a partner in both America Makes and the DMDI.
The Senate RAMI bill includes a provision added as an amendment requiring the President to submit an updated National Strategic Plan for Advanced Manufacturing to Congress every four years. AMT’s Manufacturing Mandate calls for a formal national framework to strengthen a public-private collaboration focused on boosting innovation, increasing global competitiveness and building a Smartforce for today’s American manufacturing sector.
“Jumpstarting American manufacturing is the clear path toward sustainable economic growth, improved national security, and building a 21th century workforce,” the board’s letter states. “Congress has the responsibility of ensuring that a competitive manufacturing sector is at the top of the legislative agenda.”
Woods hopes AMT members will follow the board’s lead and engage their members of Congress on issues important to the manufacturing sector. “There are no better advocates for manufacturing than the manufacturers themselves. The more they are engaged, the louder the industry’s voice will be in Washington regarding what is needed to advance and maintain American manufacturing competitiveness in the global marketplace.”
>> For more information on The Manufacturing Mandate, click here
