[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
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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.
____________________