AAM Recommends Elements of a National Manufacturing Strategy to Congress
Wed, 07/21/2010
Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) Executive Director Scott Paul has written a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi
offering AAM's views on the key points of a potential national
manufacturing strategy. The letter was prompted by an increased urgency
on Capitol Hill for rebuilding U.S. manufacturing.
Speaker Pelosi recently told reporters that House Democrats are
busy formulating a manufacturing agenda, a "Making it in America" plan. This "new strategy for U.S. manufacturing" is "a work in progress" and a
"positive initiative" she shared with the president.
Paul's letter to Speaker Pelosi explains that, as a recent AAM poll makes
clear, Americans are deeply concerned about the nation's lost standing
in the world economy. Across all party lines, voters are demanding
action to rebuild the nation's manufacturing base, and to address the
unbalanced U.S. trade relationship with China.
In response, Paul says a cohesive national manufacturing strategy should include the following key items:
- Increase access to capital for manufacturers and expand funding for clean energy technology development;
- Expand infrastructure investment, coupled with adherence to Buy American provisions;
- Increase access to training funds for specialized manufacturing work;
- Enforce U.S. trade laws and address illegally subsidized competition, especially currency manipulation;and
- Reduce our overall trade deficit and bring trade into balance.
These key areas should form a commonsense approach to revitalizing
U.S. manufacturing and should be part of any strategy Congress
adopts.
