ManufactureThis is blogging live from Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs hearing on President Obama's manufacturing agenda. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is speaking: "It's been a long time in this country since we've even asked ourselves if we needed a manufacturing strategy" "Unlike wealth created by the click of a mouse, wealth created by expanded production requires and expanded workforce." "There is no clear path to manufacturing success...we need a strategy that combines a predictable climate with workforce training." "Domestic manufacturing need our goverment to enforce trade rules." "For Ohio and our nation manufacturing matters, we know that...I am hopeful we have an administration that also believes it matters." William Straus, Senior Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is testifying: Straus is discussing employment in manufacturing. "Moving down from 31% in 1950 to 9% in 2009" "Manufacturing's share of GDP has been declining" "With the severe loss of output, manufacturing jobs decreased 16%.  Manufacturing jobs represent 26% of all job losses." Sen. Brown: Sen. Brown is discussing a country like Germany who pays their workers better and exports more goods than we do, despite the size of the U.S. "Most of us believe on this committee that there is a currency issue." Straus is answering Sen. Warner's questions about workforce training and small and medium firms. "I think your point about small manufacturers is so important..." Sen. Brown is calling forward the next panel and introducing the witnesses. Ms. Nicole Y. Lamb-Hale, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing and Services, U.S. Department of Commerce is testifying: "I believe it is critical to ensure that our manufacturing sector is strong."  "The Administration's framework recognizes that exporting goods is a key component to revitalizing manufacturing." Lamb-Hale is discussing Obama's goal to double exports and what MAS is doing to revitilize manufacturing.\ Mr. Roger D. Kilmer, Director of Manufacturing Extension Partnership, U.S. Department of Commerce is testifying: Kilmer is discussing what MEP is doing to advance Obama's manufacturing agenda. Kilmer said MEP is "supporting manufacturers as a good investment." Sen. Brown is questioning the witnesses: Sen. Brown is discussing German exports in comparison to American exports. "What are they [Germany] doing that we're not doing in manufacturing and what do we learn from them?" Lamb-Hale: "We learn about the importance of exporting.  Often because of the strong position that the U.S. has traditionally had with regard to our internal markets we have lost touch with the importance of exporting." "That is why President Obama has announced the export initiative with the goal of doubling exports within the next five years."  "We need to make sure that small and medium businesses understand the tools that they have, that are available to them...we need to take to the communities themselves the resources that are available to them." Sen. Brown: "China imports all of its wood from Brazil, brings it to China, processes it and sends it to us and we [the Administration] need to move on investigating currency on those kinds of issues because these companies will simply go out of business if this continues."