AAM is on the road today en route to the final event of our 12-stop, 10-state “Keep it Made in America” town hall meeting tour.  We’ve learned a lot along the way, hearing from many talented individuals running for Congress, from local business and labor leaders, and from you the voter.

Flawed government policies and an attitude that we can simply import goods made elsewhere and still maintain a strong economy have put us in a deep hole.  We have a manufacturing crisis that extends well beyond the current recession.  In the last decade, we’ve lost well over 5 million manufacturing jobs and over 50,000 American factories have closed their doors.  We now have more Americans officially unemployed than working in manufacturing.  Last night in Concord, NH, we heard a compelling story from a local Salvation Army homeless shelter operator.  She explained that 13 of the 26 individuals currently at the facility had worked in manufacturing at some point in their careers.  If those individuals had not fallen on difficult times, they would be making a living and contributing to society.  Over a hundred individuals were turned away in just the last year because of a lack of space at the shelter.

So, where do we go from here to bring our economy back from its current depressed state?  Clearly, government policies must be geared to investment here in America.  Read our plan for more information on Buy America, on incentives to spur domestic production, and about how unfair trade undercuts our efforts to compete both here at home and globally.  Demand change from your elected officials.  However, we can all agree that the federal government can not do it alone.  We’ve heard all across America from consumers that they desperately want to buy American-made goods.  Unfortunately, such goods are often difficult to find at stores across America.

This point was never more evident than today walking through the airport shops in Detroit’s DTW airport – the main travel hub of a city that once represented the pride of the “Made in the USA” slogan.  A quick glance at the products in The Henry Ford shop was discouraging.  Shirts, toys, and other goods with the Ford, Chrysler, and GM brand logos were all stamped “Made in India” or “Made in China.”  Across the plaza in terminal A, the MOTOWN Music Review shop had more of the same.  Both stores are operated by Buffalo-based Delaware North Companies.

Consumers overwhelmingly want American-made goods.  It’s difficult to find them, but not impossible.  Do your part:  support American manufacturing and demand that stores carry products with the “Made in the USA” tag.  Also, be sure to remind your elected officials to support polices, such as Buy America, that gear your tax dollars to purchasing American-made goods. 

Fortunately, some things are still made in America!  The Original Cheesehead Hat, made by Foamation, is stamped “Milwaukee WI.”