[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 98 (Tuesday, June 6, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF THE MANUFACTURING PARTNERSHIP IMPROVEMENT ACT

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                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 6, 2023

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the ``Manufacturing 
Partnership Improvement Act'' with Congressman Mark Pocan (D-Wl-02), 
co-chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus.
  Our new bill would guarantee representation for labor unions, 
including those skilled trades with federally registered apprenticeship 
programs, on the National Advisory Board for the U.S. Department of 
Commerce's Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program. This public-
private partnership has centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico to 
support small and medium-sized manufacturers grow their businesses and 
train, hire, and retain a skilled workforce. Skilled union workers 
across the country are ready for these manufacturing jobs.
  Under current law, the National Advisory Board's ten members must 
include one community college representative, five small business 
manufacturers, and two staff from the 51 Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership Centers nationwide. Our bill would reserve one of the two 
currently open seats for an industrial union representative on the 
National Advisory Board.
  Our bill would also improve coordination between the national network 
of federally funded Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers with 
the local offices of the Small Business Administration to help small 
manufacturers obtain federal financing and the International Trade 
Administration's U.S. Export Assistance Centers to better support small 
and medium-sized American manufacturers looking to export. Lastly, our 
bill supports the ongoing work of the Biden-Harris Administration's 
White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment, which 
recommended in February 2022 that unions be represented on all federal 
advisory committees like the Advisory Board for the Commerce 
Department's Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program.
  Mr. Speaker, Congress must bring good-paying, advanced manufacturing 
jobs back to the United States and rebuild the middle class by training 
the next generation of skilled American workers to compete in the 21st 
century. I urge all members of the House to join us in cosponsoring the 
``Manufacturing Partnership Improvement Act.''

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