Introduction of the Manufacturing Partnership Improvement Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the ``Manufacturing Partnership Improvement Act'' with Congressman Mark Pocan (D-Wl-02), co-chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus.
Our new bill would guarantee representation for labor unions, including those skilled trades with federally registered apprenticeship programs, on the National Advisory Board for the U.S. Department of Commerce's Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program. This public- private partnership has centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico to support small and medium-sized manufacturers grow their businesses and train, hire, and retain a skilled workforce. Skilled union workers across the country are ready for these manufacturing jobs.
Under current law, the National Advisory Board's ten members must include one community college representative, five small business manufacturers, and two staff from the 51 Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers nationwide. Our bill would reserve one of the two currently open seats for an industrial union representative on the National Advisory Board.
Our bill would also improve coordination between the national network of federally funded Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers with the local offices of the Small Business Administration to help small manufacturers obtain federal financing and the International Trade Administration's U.S. Export Assistance Centers to better support small and medium-sized American manufacturers looking to export. Lastly, our bill supports the ongoing work of the Biden-Harris Administration's White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment, which recommended in February 2022 that unions be represented on all federal advisory committees like the Advisory Board for the Commerce Department's Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program.
Mr. Speaker, Congress must bring good-paying, advanced manufacturing jobs back to the United States and rebuild the middle class by training the next generation of skilled American workers to compete in the 21st century. I urge all members of the House to join us in cosponsoring the ``Manufacturing Partnership Improvement Act.''
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