[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 139 (Wednesday, September 14, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H5443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL MANUFACTURING DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Reed) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize October 7 as 
National Manufacturing Day here in America. As the bipartisan co-chair 
of the House Manufacturing Caucus, with my good friend from Ohio, Tim 
Ryan, I think it is only right that we stand to recognize the efforts 
of U.S. manufacturing across our great country.
  We care about U.S. manufacturing because it brings family-sustaining, 
good quality jobs to the 12.33 million workers that are employed in the 
United States in the manufacturing industry. That is 9 percent of our 
workforce, Mr. Speaker, and it contributes $2.17 trillion to the U.S. 
economy on an annual basis.
  In my district alone, in western New York, the 23rd Congressional 
District, Mr. Speaker, there are over 404 manufacturers who employ 
approximately 44,000 people. That is food on the table, Mr. Speaker. 
That is roofs over the heads of those workers and their families, and 
it provides an opportunity for those families and the generation that 
follows with an opportunity to succeed and advance in their life.
  It is only right, Mr. Speaker, that we join together, on a bipartisan 
basis, to support U.S. manufacturing in America. That is why I 
partnered with my good friend on the other side, Joe Kennedy, to author 
and finally get passed into law the Revitalize American Manufacturing 
and Innovation Act that is the source of innovation in advanced 
manufacturing going forward.
  That is also why I support an all-of-the-above energy plan. That is 
why we have also put forth a plan in writing to advance the energy 
effort here in America.
  Also, on the Ways and Means Committee on which I serve, I am fully 
committed to a better way when it comes to revising and reforming the 
American Tax Code. It is time for us to have a fair, simple, and 
competitive Tax Code for all Americans.
  On the trade front, Mr. Speaker, I stand in unison with my colleagues 
on the other side who want to make sure that we have fair trade; that 
we have enforceable agreements where unfair practices by countries that 
violate the spirit, the rules, and the law of trade are held 
accountable. That is why we need to make sure that when we engage in 
these trade negotiations going forward that we have trade agreements 
that not only open our market but also, most importantly, open the 
market of the 95 percent of the world's consumers that live outside of 
America's borders.
  We need to stand with U.S. manufacturers in those negotiations. We 
need to make sure that U.S. manufacturing interests are put at the 
foremost priority of the negotiation points.
  There is a firm philosophy that I adhere to in our office when it 
comes to U.S. manufacturing. We have one of the greatest, if not the 
greatest--no, strike that, Mr. Speaker. We have the greatest workforce 
in the world. We have the brightest minds in the world in America, and 
we have the ability to make it here and sell it there.
  So I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing October 7 as U.S. 
Manufacturing Day. And if you are so inclined, join us in the U.S. 
Manufacturing Caucus, so you can be an active member participating in 
the debate to advance U.S. manufacturing interests so that we do, 
again, make it here to sell it across the world, and we put America's 
manufacturing interests first in all conversations that we have.

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