Honoring US Manufacturers

Honoring US Manufacturers
April 4, 2005

Last month we honored America's manufacturing community by commemorating National Manufacturing Week. National Manufacturing Week is a fine time to keep in mind the importance of manufacturers to our economy and how Congress can help provide them with a level playing field to compete on.

The importance of manufacturing to our local economy, as well as the entire nation's economic prosperity, is undeniable. For more than a century, the manufacturing sector has been the primary source of economic growth in the United States. Every dollar in manufactured goods sold generates an additional $1.43 in intermediate economic activity, which is a higher output than that of any other economic sector.

Manufacturing productivity has increased twice as much as in other sectors, enabling American manufacturers to remain competitive in the global economy. Over 60% of goods exported from the United States are manufactured - double the percentage of 10 years ago.

Manufacturers continue to face numerous challenges, including foreign governments that support unfair trade. My House colleagues and I have sought to maintain a level playing field, because we know that if the competition is fair, US manufacturers will continue to lead.

One key House legislative action, in the last session of Congress, was strengthening the Buy American Act to require the Pentagon to purchase more critical components from US manufacturers. As a Member of the Conference Committee, I supported helping safeguard US defense manufacturers, critical to preserving national security. Federal agencies should buy from US manufacturers whenever possible.

Last October, I was excited to vote for the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. This FSC/ETI bill was important to manufacturers. The FSC/ETI legislation encourages American manufacturers to keep jobs in the US.

However, Congress has the opportunity to take further actions that will benefit manufacturers and thus the nation. Among our priorities should be:

Making Health Care More Affordable. We should allow small businesses to pool together to purchase health coverage for workers at lower rates and expand medical savings accounts to give workers more control over their health insurance costs. In the 108th Congress, the House passed legislation to allow Association Health Plans, that would allow small businesses to pool resources to buy health care, as well as Health Service Accounts that allow people to put money in savings accounts tax-free to be used later for health coverage. The legislation has been reintroduced in this session of Congress and I am a cosponsor of the bill (H.R. 525)

Streamlining Regulations and Reporting Requirements. We must work to simplify and streamline regulations, along with ensuring that well-intentioned compliance requirements do not have the unintended effect of reducing jobs. The Administration recently streamlined tax reporting requirements for small businesses, helping 2.6 million small businesses save 61 million hours of unproductive work this year.

End Foreign Government Currency Manipulation. China, in particular, and other governments must stop their illegal currency manipulation practices which are taking jobs away from Americans. Last year, I co-sponsored Representative Phil English's (R-PA) bill requiring the Secretary of the Treasury to analyze and report on the exchange rate policies of China and to require additional tariffs be imposed on their products based on the rate of manipulation of their currency. In addition, I, along with other Members, sent a letter to Ambassador Zoellick encouraging him to file a complaint against China with the World Trade Organization (WTO). Foreign governments must play by the rules of fair trade. If not, the United States government must seek remedies.

Taxation Simplification. Companies have to hire too many accountants and lawyers to fill out too many forms to comply with a tax code that is too convoluted. By simplifying the tax code we will make taxation fundamentally more "fair." Companies will also be able to cut overhead, increase productivity, and hire more Americans to create more products and services.

Ensuring an Affordable, Reliable Energy Supply. President Bush has proposed a comprehensive national energy plan to promote energy efficiency, increase domestic energy production, and provide enhanced conservation efforts, all while protecting the environment. We must put an end to our dependence on Middle Eastern and OPEC sources of energy. For too long we've been at the mercy of nations and leaders that neither respects our democracy nor our way of life. The House has twice approved comprehensive energy plans but the Senate has failed to adopt a bill. It is time for the Senate to finish its work and pass crucial energy legislation now.

Supporting our manufacturers and honoring them during National Manufacturing Week is an opportunity to showcase to the ways we can strengthen our support for manufacturers. I am pleased to recognize their achievements and challenges by supporting them as a legislator and a consumer.

http://www.house.gov/miketurner/news/columns/4.1.05.shtml