Sens. Bunt, Brown, And Reps. Reed, Kennedy Announce Endorsements From National Association Of Manufacturers, Semiconductor Equipment And Materials International For Landmark, Bipartisan Manufacturing Bill

Press Release

Today, U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and U.S. Reps. Tom Reed (NY-23) and Joe Kennedy (MA-4) announced that both the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) endorsed their bipartisan legislation, the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2013. Their landmark bill would establish a Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NMI) to position the United States, once again, as the global leader in advanced manufacturing and ensure that the U.S. can out-innovate the rest of the world while creating thousands of high-paying, high-tech manufacturing jobs.

"I'm pleased to see these industry associations support the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act," Blunt said. "Missouri is home to world class research institutions and innovative manufacturers, large and small -- many of which are represented by organizations such as NAM and SEMI. This bipartisan bill will create an important network of partnerships to bolster private sector job creation and encourage more manufacturing innovation in Missouri and nationwide."

"I appreciate the support from these industry associations who represent several Ohio companies. Small and medium companies play a critical role in manufacturing supply chains, and their competiveness is crucial to our economy," Brown said. "By partnering with universities, community colleges, workers, and the public sector, members of NAM and SEMI can transform American manufacturing. In order for our country to maintain its competitive edge and help rebuild the middle class, we need to give greater support to our manufacturing sector, and our bipartisan bill is a big step forward."

"The strong support we're receiving for our manufacturing bill is a testament to the bill's mission of revitalizing American manufacturing competitiveness," Reed said. "As co-chair of the House Manufacturing Caucus, I hear from manufacturers of all sizes about the need to facilitate the kinds of public-private partnerships our bill provides. With this infrastructure in place, we can grow domestic manufacturing with a "make it here, sell it there' approach and put Americans back to work."

"This country's manufacturing base lies at the epicenter of efforts to address some of our greatest economic challenges," Kennedy said. "From still-stubborn unemployment rates to trade deficits and income inequality: a national manufacturing policy is essential to continued economic recovery. This national network will be smart and strategic in addressing perennial manufacturing challenges, building an infrastructure from the local level up that is directly tapped into the unique regional challenges US manufacturers face. I'm pleased that this bill received endorsements from these two influential organizations in the manufacturing industry."

The Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2013 is modeled on the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII), a public-private manufacturing hub located in Youngstown, Ohio. The legislation is designed to bring together industry, universities and community colleges, federal agencies, and all levels of government to accelerate manufacturing innovation. It would establish public-private institutes to bridge the gap between basic research and product development.

"The Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2013 has the potential to strengthen the technology leadership position that manufacturers have worked years to establish," NAM said. "By creating a network of innovation centers, the legislation will bring together businesses, schools, and government in a joint effort to speed the transfer of advanced manufacturing technology and techniques into the commercial sector. This cooperative partnership will benefit all three sectors and the economy as a whole."

"We know industry-led initiatives like the one proposed in S.1468/H.R. 2996 can have great impact on not only ramping up new innovations, but also in helping to solidify industries and technologies where we have leadership, as well as creating and retaining jobs that go along with it," SEMI said. "Again, thank you for your leadership in supporting a bipartisan and common sense proposal that will have a real impact on advanced manufacturing in the U.S."

Blunt and Brown worked together to pass a bipartisan amendment to the Senate Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 aimed at supporting the creation of a network of manufacturing innovation hubs. The amendment to the Senate was supported by NAM, Association for Manufacturing Technologies (AMT), SEMI, US Conference of Mayors, Association of Public and Land Grant Universities, Council on Competitiveness, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), American Society for Engineering Education, United Auto Workers (UAW), Association of American Universities, Semiconductor Industry Association and the American Auto Policy Council, and The Ohio State University.

The Youngstown-based institute is the pilot of NMI. In August 2012, Brown visited M7 Technologies in Youngstown to announce the $30 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), matched by nearly $40 million in non-federal funds. The funds helped to establish the new, first-of-its-kind manufacturing institute to specialize in additive manufacturing technology, a type of 3-D printing in which digital models are used to make parts and components.