Report Language Will Aid Creation of Advanced Manufacturing Plan
WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–June 5, 2014. Following today’s Committee passage of the Commerce, Science and Justice Appropriations bill, U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), along with Representative Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.-03) applauded the inclusion of report language within the bill that will aid the creation of a National Strategic Plan for Advanced Manufacturing. The bipartisan group of Senators worked together to pass the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act, which echoes the need for a national manufacturing agenda, through the Commerce Committee this past April.
“Enacting a National Manufacturing Strategy is a necessary first step in order to boost our nation’s global competitiveness and economic standing,” Senator Kirk said. “Manufacturing in Illinois accounts for 13.3% of our state’s economic output, and the greater emphasis that is placed on innovation and job creation, the more stability and leverage the United States will have at home and abroad.”
“If we want to bring high quality jobs back to the U.S., we need to start investing in our nation’s innovative and highly capable manufacturers,” Senator Coons said. “Our growing global competitors are already employing well-developed strategies to speed up and sustain manufacturing as a key part of their economies. Congress must make the same commitment to American manufacturing, or risk having our country left behind in the race for new innovations. This bill requires the U.S. government to begin planning for a broader national manufacturing strategy that will ensure our nation is more competitive in the global market, and that we’re doing everything we can to help our local manufacturers grow and create jobs through exports. This is a great first step, and I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting it on the Senate floor.”
“America is a powerhouse when it comes to manufacturing, but there’s more we can do to ensure ‘Made in America’ remains the gold standard around the world,” Senator Pryor said. “Our common-sense amendment gives us the blueprint we need to maintain and expand the manufacturing industry, strengthen our economy, and create jobs here at home.”
“The manufacturing strategy legislation is about bringing everyone together from the public and private sectors to develop a well-coordinated bipartisan strategy that will boost American manufacturing and create jobs for the hard working middle class,” said Representative Lipinski. “I’m pleased that the Senate Appropriations Committee supports this goal, and through the work of Senator Kirk, included report language that directs the White House to prepare for future strategic reports. I thank Senators Kirk, Coons and Pryor for their leadership on this bill and their commitment to the manufacturing industry that is critical to our nation’s future.”
The report language included in the CJS Appropriations bill directs the Office of Science and Technology Policy to report to Congress with a comprehensive plan to develop a National Manufacturing Strategy. The Kirk-Coons language passed by the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in April is similar in that it would require the President to submit to Congress an updated National Strategic Plan for Advanced Manufacturing every four years.
Source: kirk.senate.gov
