American Manufacturing Leadership Act

Floor Speech

I rise today in support of H.R. 2397, the American Manufacturing Leadership Act. This legislation reauthorizes and amends the bipartisan Revitalize American Manufacturing Innovation Act of 2014.

Nationally, manufacturing supports nearly 13 million American jobs, or roughly 9 percent of the workforce, and represents about 11 percent of the American economy. Most of these firms are small manufacturers, supporting local economies by providing well-paying jobs.

Technology will continue to change this sector dramatically. Today's manufacturing floor looks far different from the assembly lines of the past, and the skills needed by manufacturing workers will continue to change.

Innovative processes, such as additive manufacturing, are transforming the future of manufacturing. It is essential that these technologies are transferred to and adopted by all U.S. manufacturers so that we remain globally competitive and the number one destination for companies looking to carry out advanced manufacturing.

With manufacturers in the United States performing 64 percent of all private sector R&D in the Nation, it is important that we capitalize on these investments and reauthorize the network of public-private partnerships established in this act, which bolster manufacturing innovation.

This bill includes important reforms to better coordinate centers for manufacturing innovation funded by all relevant agencies and incorporates recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office to improve management. This bill also prioritizes manufacturing workforce development and outreach to small and medium-sized manufacturers.

I thank Representative Stevens and Representative Balderson for introducing this legislation and for their work in ushering it through the Science Committee on a bipartisan basis. I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.

I would note to my colleague that I have no other speakers so, as I reserve my time, when the gentlewoman is prepared, I will close.

I rise again in support of H.R. 2397, the American Manufacturing Leadership Act. This bipartisan legislation takes important steps to reform the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2014.

It requires greater coordination among the centers for manufacturing innovation and incorporating GAO recommendations on the management of these centers. Most importantly, this bill prioritizes manufacturing workforce development and outreach to small- and medium-sized manufacturers.

These public-private partnerships combine the technical knowledge base supported by our excellent universities and research institutions with innovation leadership supported by our private industries, both large and small. These centers provide the U.S. with the opportunity to lead the world in advanced manufacturing competitiveness.

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