United States Manufacturing Enhancement Act of 2010

Floor Speech

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Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of this job-creating legislation. This legislation before us today is going to advance American manufacturing competitiveness in an increasingly global economy, and it furthers our goal of doubling exports over the next 5 years. Yet we hear strong opposition to this legislation today. Let me tell you something: It's Orwellian what you just heard--or, in street parlance, it's a reach.

There is clearly an opportunity for us to get past some of the pettiness of this institution and move forward on legislation that at one time would guarantee 400 votes. There is nothing that we are attempting to hide with this legislation. The markings have been posted on the Internet. Now, our opponents have even authored some of these provisions. They have decided, if somehow they help an American company, that it's dirty business.

One of the provisions that I've offered in this bill today helps a manufacturing company in my district--and by the way, it's headquartered in a Republican Member's district, a Member who, apparently, is going to vote against it today, and we are going to hear opposition that doesn't stand up under the magnifying glass.

These tariff reductions are simply taxes on imports, but these imported products are based upon no American manufacturer making them; so it only raises taxes on the cost of an American importer who uses the raw material to create a marketable product for sale. This bill will lower production costs and increase American manufacturing competitiveness.

Now, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers and others have said this is a job booster, estimated to increase the GDP by--listen to this--several billion dollars. This has been a model for bipartisanship in the past, for transparency and for good policy that promotes American manufacturing and jobs, which ought to be our current and lasting priority--but today, things have changed.

There is no other bill, no other legislative process that requires the same magnitude of disclosure that this legislation does. No other bill requires the certification that this legislation does. It is a model for sunlight and transparency. Yet some today will urge a vote against this legislation? I'm not one of them. I am glad to stand here and to support the provision that I have offered that will help a company in my district that supports 500 very good jobs.

I urge adoption.

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