[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15598]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL MANUFACTURING DAY

  Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I join with my colleagues, led by 
Senators Coons and Baldwin, to recognize the significant role 
manufacturing plays in the United States and in my home State of Rhode 
Island. According to facts compiled by the National Association of 
Manufacturers, over 41,000 Rhode Islanders, nearly 9 percent of the 
workforce, work in manufacturing. Those workers were responsible for 
$4.1 billion in economic output, just under 8 percent of the State's 
total output, in 2013. On average these workers brought in over $67,000 
in annual compensation.
  Manufacturing is a highly technical and innovative industry that 
creates good-paying jobs for skilled workers. It is also an industry 
that is expanding; in Rhode Island manufacturing jobs have increased by 
1,100 compared to a year ago. And just last week I joined a Rhode 
Island advanced manufacturer, Yushin America, Inc., to celebrate a 
ribbon cutting for its $2 million expansion.
  This sort of expansion is representative of the type of highly 
technical growth we see in manufacturing. Moreover, these good-paying, 
highly-skilled, middle-class jobs are what will help further support 
widespread economic growth. That is why I look forward to celebrating 
National Manufacturing Day with the mayor of Providence and my 
delegation colleagues on Monday and continuing to work to advance 
measures that support manufacturers and job creation back home.

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