Earlier today a number of manufacturing state senators, led by Sherrod Brown (D-OH), sent a letter calling for important measures to ensure that climate change legislation does not put domestic manufacturers and workers at a competitive disadvantage to countries that do not have climate change regulations in place.  The letter was sent to Senators Kerry (D-MA), Graham (R-SC), and Lieberman (I-CT), who are expected to unveil new climate change legislation in the coming weeks.  The full Senate may vote on a climate change package as early as this summer. According to the Senators’ letter:

"We write to express our strong belief that comprehensive clean energy legislation must include a plan to address the challenges that face manufacturing. Without such a plan, we are concerned that the legislation will ultimately be unsuccessful. We are convinced that successful legislation must include a multi-pronged strategy to maintain and strengthen our industrial base and the millions of manufacturing jobs critical for our economic recovery. This plan must promote manufacturing competiveness, create and maintain American jobs, and recognize that a strong manufacturing base is a prerequisite for both a domestic clean energy economy and long-term economic recovery and growth."

AAM praises Senator Brown and his colleagues for their attention to this matter.  A climate bill that lacks a comprehensive, fully-funded manufacturing title has the potential to threaten jobs and competitiveness in energy-intensive, trade-sensitive manufacturing industries (including chemicals, paper, iron and steel, aluminum, rubber, cement, and glass).  According to a 2009 report released by the Economic Policy Institute, the top ten most energy and GHG intensive industries directly employ over 1.2 million workers, and those industries support an additional 2.9 million jobs in other industries, for a total 4.1 million jobs at stake.  These industries support as many as 404,000 jobs in California and 425,000 in Texas – states not often considered to be “rustbelt states.” Senator Brown was joined on the letter by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Carl Levin (D-MI), Robert P. Casey Jr. (D-PA), Arlen Specter (D-PA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Evan Bayh (D-IN), and Kay Hagan (D-NC).