[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 178 (Thursday, November 17, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                         MANUFACTURING.GOV ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 14, 2022

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the 
Manufacturing.gov Act, H.R. 6290, a bill that would refine the 
Manufacturing.gov website to serve as the main source for key 
information regarding federal manufacturing programs.
  Manufacturing.gov brings together industry, academia and federal 
partners within a network of advanced manufacturing institutes to 
increase U.S. manufacturing competitiveness and promote a robust and 
sustainable national manufacturing R&D infrastructure.
  This legislation would specify improvements to the website to make it 
even more useful and valuable by requiring the inclusion of relevant 
contact information, opportunities for public input, and webpages 
focusing on topics related to the website.
  Small and medium sized manufacturers are an essential part of the 
U.S. economy.
  In Texas, they make up approximately 13 percent of output and employ 
just above 7 percent state's workforce.
  Manufacturing companies need easy access to critical information 
within their industrial field to optimize their efficiency and ability 
to compete. To promote domestic production and provide job 
opportunities to hard-working Americans, these companies need real-time 
data on sourcing, markets, supply chains, and fulfillment.
  As the U.S. elevates domestic manufacturing to a top economic 
priority, we must improve and update our systems to better equip these 
companies, and the public, with the resources they need to succeed.
  This bill would establish a new section of the Manufacturing.gov 
website titled ``Manufacturing.gov hub'' to include federal 
manufacturing program information.
  To ensure that the Manufacturing.gov hub serves the needs of the 
people, it is important that the public has the ability to suggest 
input and feedback.
  Allowing the public to give feedback on the website's functionality, 
as well as its content, allows the site to better serve the needs of 
U.S. manufacturing while providing a safe, constructive environment to 
present concerns and solutions.
  In order to support the interests of the free market, it is 
imperative that we make transparent the types of technologies and 
research that are being developed.
  Texas is home to companies that manufacture a wide range of advanced 
and essential goods, including railcars and railways, clean energy 
equipment, and everyday household items such as backpacks, blankets, 
and towels.
  Providing these companies with easily accessible sites that are 
dedicated to their respective industries provides them with the 
necessary information they need to improve their production.
  This bill would provide industrial sectors with accurate, up-to-date 
information webpages within each hub.
  Finally, the Manufacturing.gov Act will utilize machine learning to 
highlight frequently asked questions and provide corresponding answers 
for such questions.
  By introducing machine learning into the hub, we can refine the 
website to fit the needs of U.S. manufacturers.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill dedicated to 
bolstering the U.S. manufacturing and production industry by 
establishing a hub that supplies U.S. small and medium manufacturing 
companies with recent technological and research developments.

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