[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 57 (Friday, March 26, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E311-E312]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE OFFICE OF MANUFACTURING & INDUSTRIAL POLICY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 26, 2021

  Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, manufacturing is not just America's 
legacy; it is our future. To ensure this legacy remains, we need to 
position domestic manufacturing and the American worker at the center 
of federal policy.
  America's manufacturing and innovation sectors are second to none. 
When we work together and support America's domestic manufacturing 
ecosystem, there is nothing in this world we cannot achieve.
  As a daughter of the industrial Midwest, the strong, hardworking city 
of Toledo, Ohio, I know firsthand how important a strong manufacturing 
sector is to American families and their communities.
  It is for these workers, their forbearers and future generation of 
manufactures yet to come, that I am so pleased to author and introduce 
the bipartisan, bicameral Office of Manufacturing and Industrial 
Innovation Policy Act.
  The global coronavirus pandemic exposed how vulnerable the United 
States has become as a result of over-reliance on international supply 
chains. Yet these lessons provide opportunity in both economic recovery 
and to reposition American manufacturing for long-term prosperity. To 
do this, we need an Office at the highest level to coordinate, 
strengthen, and rebuild America's manufacturing leadership. The Office 
of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Act provides this 
opportunity.
  This legislation will create within the Executive Office of the 
President (EOP) an Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation 
(OMII) to elevate and coordinate manufacturing and industrial 
innovation policy. The Office will synthesize information from inter 
and intra governmental engagements, as well as advice from the 
manufacturing sector, including small businesses, labor unions, 
academics, and nongovernmental bodies.
  This bipartisan legislation will elevate focus to address critical 
challenges facing the American manufacturing industry, establish key 
agency coordination and cross-administration management efforts to 
ensure global leadership in manufacturing and trade, improve workforce 
development and job creation for the future, enhance research and 
development, and develop a long-term strategy to ensure the growth and 
national security of the U.S. manufacturing industry, workforce, and 
economy. In summary, provisions included in each of the titles 
establish the following initiatives:
  Title I. Establishes Policy and Priority Objectives for U.S. 
Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation: lays out goals to promote a 
thriving manufacturing and industrial sector, enhanced and fortified by 
coordinated efforts to address the enumerated policies and priorities, 
focused through comprehensive strategy implemented at the highest-
level.
  Title II. Entities to Advance a Cohesive U.S. Manufacturing and 
Industrial Innovation Agenda Creates The Office of Manufacturing and 
Industrial Innovation Policy, modeled on the Executive Office of 
Science and Technology Policy, to provide manufacturing and industrial 
perspective and advice to the President, and provide a comprehensive 
survey and cross administration management of efforts to ensure global 
leadership in manufacturing critical to the long-term health and 
national security of the United States.
  A Chief Manufacturing Officer (CMO) will serve as Director of OMII 
and advisor to the President. The CMO will lead coordination of 
manufacturing and industrial innovation initiatives across the federal 
Government and work with representatives in State and local government, 
labor, non-governmental groups, and private business to develop and 
implement enhanced coordination of manufacturing policy.
  OMII will develop and update a National Strategic Plan, 
quadrennially, with short and long-term goals to ensure American 
leadership in manufacturing.
  Title III. Establishes the President's Committee on Manufacturing and 
Industrial Innovation, comprised of representatives from the business, 
consumer, defense, public interest, and labor sectors to analyze the 
landscape of manufacturing efforts and activities in America. The 
Committee will be apportioned by the President and report on the state 
of manufacturing and provide recommendations to strengthen the sector 
through federal policies and initiatives.
  Title IV. Establishes the Federal Strategy and Coordinating Council 
on Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation, chaired by the President, 
to coordinate manufacturing and industrial innovation policy. The 
Council will convene the heads of various executive agencies--including 
Secretaries of Commerce, Labor, HHS, DOD, and Energy--to establish 
national priorities and coordinated strategies for manufacturing and 
industrial innovation policy and investment.
  Title V. Establishes a Federally Funded Research & Development 
Center: The Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Institute to 
gather, analyze, initiate studies, and assist the federal government on 
issues and concerns related to American manufacturing and industrial 
innovation. The National Institute of Standards and Technology will 
sponsor the Institute.
  Title VI. Creates a National Medal of Manufacturing and Industrial 
Innovation to recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge in 
manufacturing and industrial innovation.
  Title VII. Appropriations: authorizes sums as needed, but specifies 
$5 million per title for the first year for Title 2, Title 3, Title 4, 
Title 5.
  America's manufacturing legacy is one of prosperity and progress. 
This Office provides the opportunity to once again prioritize U.S. 
manufacturing and industrial innovation to support job creation and 
America's long-term economic strength.
  Given the lofty efforts of this Office, the legislation earned 
endorsement of numerous groups, including: the Aerospace Industries 
Association (AIA), the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), the 
AFL-CIO, the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), the American 
Small Manufacturers Coalition (ASMC), the Association for Manufacturing 
Technology (AMT), the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), the Industrial 
Fasteners Institute (IFI), the International Association of Machinists 
and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the International Economic Development 
Council (IEDC), the International Federation of Professional and 
Technical Engineers (IFPTE), the Information Technology and Innovation 
Foundation (ITIF), the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association 
(MEMA), the National Association of Manufacturing (NAM), the National 
Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA), the Precision Metalforming 
Association (PMA), the Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA), 
the State Science & Technology Institute (SSTI), the International 
Union of United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement 
Workers of America (UAW), and the United Steel Workers (USW).
  Here is a glimpse of what the groups and experts across the country 
have to say about the importance of this effort:

       The U.S. has seen massive supply chain disruptions due to 
     COVID-19, which have required small manufacturers to rapidly 
     reinvent both their products and their services. 
     Representative Kaptur and Senator Klobuchar understand the 
     challenges facing American manufacturers and have 
     demonstrated long standing support for this critical 
     industry, said Chuck Spangler, board chair of the American 
     Small Manufacturers Coalition (ASMC) and president of the 
     South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership. ``We 
     at ASMC thank them for their leadership and we look 
     forward to working with them in the future.''
       The COVID pandemic laid bare what many of us have been 
     saying for years--the United States is long overdue for a 
     comprehensive, national manufacturing and innovation 
     strategy. The foundation laid in this bipartisan bill to 
     create an Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation 
     Policy and a federal plan for manufacturing will go a long 
     way to making that a reality. The AFL-CIO is proud to endorse 
     this important bill. Brad Markell, Executive Director AFL-CIO 
     Industrial Union Council
       The decisions made by every federal department affects 
     manufacturers, often with unintended consequences. The Office 
     of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Act will 
     help make sure small and medium sized manufacturers have a 
     strong voice within the federal government and help agencies 
     coordinate policies that encourage domestic manufacturing. 
     Precision Machined Products Association
       The Machinists Union applauds Senators lobuchar, Wicker, 
     Coons. and Portman, and Representative Kaptur and 
     Representative Fitzpatrick for not only recognizing the 
     critical importance of the U.S. manufacturing industry, but 
     for also proposing long awaited legislation that will rebuild 
     U.S. manufacturing for a sustainable future. The bipartisan 
     Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Act 
     places a priority on creating the kind of high wage jobs that 
     American workers and our economy need now and for future 
     generations. International Association of Machinists and 
     Aerospace Workers--International President Robert Martinez 
     Jr.
       The bipartisan Office of Manufacturing and Industrial 
     Innovation Policy Act is a critical step toward establishing 
     an effective national industrial strategy that would benefit

[[Page E312]]

     working people and union members in every state and 
     congressional district. IFPTE applauds Senators Klobuchar, 
     Wicker, Coons, and Portman and Representative Kaptur and 
     Fitzpatrick for proposing legislation that aligns federally 
     funded research, development, and technological innovation 
     with the goal of rebuilding the nation's industrial base and 
     supports high-quality high-wage domestic manufacturing jobs. 
     Paul Shearon, President of the International Federation of 
     Professional and Technical Engineers
       Manufacturing has been the foundation of the U.S. economy 
     from the beginning. Bipartisan support of this effort 
     highlights the importance of working together to ensure 
     future economic opportunity for all Americans.--Prof. Mark 
     Johnson, Director of Clemson Center for Advanced 
     Manufacturing, former Director of the Advanced Manufacturing 
     Office at the U.S. Department of Energy
       The federal government needs an industrial policy for 
     manufacturing in America that encourages innovation and 
     investment, in both technologies and people. The Office of 
     Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Act will make 
     sure that the White House has a coordinated strategy to 
     promote domestic manufacturing growth. National Tooling and 
     Machining Association
       I can think of few more important initiatives for our long-
     term competitiveness than the Office of Manufacturing and 
     Industrial Innovation Policy Act. In the years to come, this 
     legislation will ensure robust coordination across every 
     facet of public and private enterprise, and advance both our 
     national and economic security. Public policy in these key 
     areas are often undertaken on an ad hoc, disaggregated basis. 
     The provisions of this bill will set the foundation for 
     America to `Build Back Better' with a robust strategy 
     grounded in real science, productivity, and smart job 
     growth.--Neal Orringer, Former Director of Manufacturing for 
     the U.S. Department of Defense and Former Manufacturing 
     Senior Advisor to U.S. Commerce Secretary and Co-Chair of 
     White House Office of Manufacturing Policy
       The Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation 
     Policy Act gives manufacturers a long overdue seat at the 
     policy-making table at a time when the sector is taking a 
     leading role responding to the pandemic and driving the 
     economy. Precision Metalforming Association
       Rapid and effective implementation of President Biden's 
     BuildBackBetter agenda is critical to restore the nation's 
     global competitiveness in manufacturing and rebuild our 
     domestic supply chains. The Manufacturing and Industrial 
     Innovation Policy Office, modeled on the Office of Science 
     and Technology Policy, will develop a national manufacturing 
     strategy, strengthen partnerships between the federal and 
     state governments, and coordinate the siloed 58 federal 
     manufacturing programs. Working closely with the private 
     sector and educational institutions, the Office will ensure 
     that all workers, communities, and companies will participate 
     in economic growth.'' Phillip Singerman, former NIST 
     Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services 
     (2011-2020)
       The White House should take a whole of government approach 
     to manufacturing and the Office of Manufacturing and 
     Industrial Innovation Policy Act will put the sector at the 
     center of policymaking within the Executive Office of the 
     President. American Mold Builders Association
       Based on my experience as the Assistant Director for 
     Advanced Manufacturing at OSTP (2009-12), creating the OMII 
     is a critical step to regain America's leadership in advanced 
     manufacturing, rebuild the national manufacturing innovation 
     ecosystem, and rekindle American ingenuity. OMII is designed 
     to provide a much needed national strategy and requisite 
     policy implementation to ensure that what is invented here is 
     manufactured here to deliver a return on investment of 
     taxpayer dollars in science and technology.--Sridhar Kota, 
     Executive Director, MForesight: Alliance for Manufacturing 
     Foresight; Herrick Professor of Engineering, University of 
     Michigan.
       ``The fastener industry makes the nuts, bolts and screws 
     that hold the world together. We are pleased to support this 
     legislation to elevate manufacturing within the Executive 
     Office of the President, and to better coordinate the various 
     manufacturing initiatives across the federal government as 
     the U.S. focuses on a needed national manufacturing 
     strategy.''--Dan Walker, Managing Director, Industrial 
     Fasteners Institute

  I thank my colleagues, Representatives Haley Stevens, Tim Ryan, Brian 
Fitzpatrick, and Chuck Fleischmann for introducing this bipartisan bill 
with me in the House, and Senators Amy Klobuchar, Roger Wicker, Chris 
Coons, and Rob Portman for their leadership on this bill in the Senate. 
Additionally, I would like to acknowledge Jenny Perrino, my Deputy 
Chief of Staff and Legislative Director, for her hard work to craft 
this legislation and bring it to the line. Together, I am confident we 
can champion this bill through Congress and to the President's desk 
without delay. America's manufacturing workers deserve nothing less.

                          ____________________