In an effort to aid American manufacturers, Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) are urging the Office of Manufacturing and Services to be a more visible presence in the federal government and in the formation of administration policy:

“Manufacturing is the root of a healthy economy, and the federal government must ensure that the voice of American manufacturers is loud and clear in every policy debate and decision, whether it’s at EPA, the Labor Department, or Treasury. The Office of Manufacturing and Services provides valuable insight and analysis on exporting industries for several agencies and the public, but manufacturing is much more than just exports,” Brown said. “As the Obama Administration considers re-organizing the Commerce Department, I urge it consider raising the visibility of this Office, the title and position of its Director, and the broadening of its portfolio beyond exports.”

“The financial crisis, recession, and challenging on-going recovery have made it plain that we've got to put ‘Made in America’ back at the heart of the American economy. The well-paid middle class jobs manufacturing provides are critical to restoring stable, balanced growth to our economy. As we look to compete in the 21st century economy, I hope the Obama Administration can do more to prioritize manufacturing, and strengthening the Office of Manufacturing and Services through additional tools and visibility is one place to start. We simply must do more to speed job creation here at home,” Merkley said.

We applaud the Senator’s for their efforts to increase the visibility of this important office. Senator Brown has long been a champion of American manufacturing, and recently co-authored the National Manufacturing Strategy Act of 2011, legislation aimed at bolstering the competitiveness of the American manufacturing industry. Read more about the importance of adopting a national manufacturing strategy.