Congress Moves to Establish National Manufacturing Strategy

July 30, 2010
'Make it in America' legislation touches on advancing technology and reducing trade deficit.

Three pieces of legislation, each designed to advance American manufacturing, were passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on July 28. The agenda, entitled, "Make it in America," addresses industrial strategy, clean-energy technology and the trade deficit.

One of the bills, the National Manufacturing Strategy Act, would have President Obama create a four-year national manufacturing strategy to advance the U.S. presence in the global economy. Two other bills that are part of the agenda had previously passed the House, one containing hundreds of tariff suspensions and reductions in an attempt help domestic companies, while another offered investments in workforce training.

"'Make it in America' is not just about manufacturing in America," said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). "It's about succeeding in America. Americans have always looked to the manufacturing sector as a source of economic vitality and as a source of pride."

Though the legislation moved swiftly through the House, it has little chance of advancing in the Senate anytime soon. According to several reports, the Senate has no plans to take up the measures before the August recess. Nor is there any indication as to whether it would go up for a vote when the chamber reconvenes in September.

The National Manufacturing Strategy Act was passed by a margin of 379 to 38, while the two other bills were passed unanimously by lawmakers.

Still, some critics suggested that the legislation would have minimal impact so long as trade treaties with Colombia and South Korea remain stalled.

"Creating another commission, another strategy, another report falls far short of a solution," said Rep. Peter Roskam (R.-Ill.). What American manufacturers need, he said, is lower taxes.

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

How to Build Zero-Cost On-Site Solar and Storage Projects

Nov. 25, 2023
The Inflation Reduction Act offers tax credits, incentives, and financing that enable no-cost projects. In Enel’s eBook, discover the critical role that incentives play in your...

Discrete and Process Manufacturing 2024 Trends and Outlook for North America

Oct. 29, 2023
Manufacturers are reaping the benefits of automation and cloud-based solutions. Discover what is driving today's industry trends and how they can shape your growth priorities ...

Why DataOps may be the key to unlocking the full potential of digital transformation

Nov. 3, 2023
Read the 2023 market survey conducted by IndustryWeek

How Manufacturers Can Optimize Operations with Weather Intelligence

Nov. 2, 2023
The bad news? Severe weather has emerged as one of the biggest threats to continuity and safety in manufacturing. The good news? The intelligence solutions that build weather ...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!