[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 34 (Tuesday, March 24, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E449-E450]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CELEBRATING RHODE ISLAND MANUFACTURING

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PATRICK J. KENNEDY

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 24, 1998

  Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
the second annual Rhode Island Manufacturing Week taking place from 
April 27 to May 1 of this year. The conference is a celebration of the 
significant role manufacturing has played and will continue to play in 
the lives of the people of Rhode Island. But it is much more than that. 
The week-long seminar is an opportunity to educate the over 2,500 
manufacturing companies in Rhode Island about the latest in 
technological business advances. It is an opportunity to stress the 
necessity of adapting to the constant cultural and societal changes 
that impact our economy. In short, it is an opportunity to ensure that 
Rhode Island manufacturers remain competitive in today's rapidly 
changing market.
  This year, the Rhode Island Manufacturing Week organizing committee 
is honored to have Mr. Daniel S. Goldin, Administrator at NASA, as its 
keynote speaker. Mr. Goldin will discuss the most modern NASA 
technology, and how that technology can be commercially applied to 
improve the changing face of business. As we all know, an essential 
element in the growth of our nation is the sustained success of our 
manufacturing infrastructure. This industry is a part of our historical 
job base, and is a key to our economic future.
  Today in Rhode Island, there are over 80,000 high skill/high wage 
manufacturing jobs. Successful public/private partnerships there are 
proving that the government and private corporations can work together 
to not just succeed, but rather flourish. Simply put, Rhode Island is 
taking the lead in what should be a nationwide fight to reinvigorate 
American manufacturing. The Manufacturing Week Conference is a giant 
step in this direction.
  As the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, Rhode Island long ago 
recognized the significance of manufacturing. In 1790, innovations by 
Rhode Islander Samuel Slater helped spur along industrial changes that 
dramatically impacted both our nation and the world. Since that time, 
technological improvements have continued to alter the landscape of the 
business industry. In order to stay competitive in this environment, 
leadership is necessary to educate and sustain our businesses. The 
Rhode Island Manufacturing Week Conference is attempting to provide 
that leadership, to provide that education, to provide that sustenance, 
so that our economy, and in turn our nation, can continue to grow as it 
should.

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