AAM Praises Obama Administration's Manufacturing Framework
National Desk
December 17, 2009
Administration recognizes key importance of nation's manufacturing base.
Washington, DC -- The Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) today praised the Obama Administration's new "Framework for Revitalizing American Manufacturing." The document comes at a crisis moment for the nation's industrial sector, which has lost more than 5 million jobs and 51,000 factories over the past decade.
"We are extremely heartened to see the Administration not only recognize the importance of domestic manufacturing to the overall economy but to also go on record and acknowledge that certain government policies can help to revitalize the sector," said Scott Paul, Executive Director of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM). "As obvious as it would seem, the Administration's recognition of unfair foreign trade practices and the need for substantial investment in infrastructure and research and development represents an important step in breaking from the failed approaches of the past."
AAM has long argued for a cohesive national manufacturing strategy, one that has been sorely lacking in recent decades. Any sensible manufacturing strategy should focus on investments in infrastructure, research and development, enforcement of trade laws, opening of foreign markets, expanded skills and training for workers, access to capital, and sensible tax policies. AAM believes the manufacturing framework appropriately addresses these areas.
Specifically, the Administration's manufacturing framework offers seven key goals: Provide workers with the opportunity to obtain the skills necessary to be highly productive; Invest in the creation of new technologies and business practices; Develop stable and efficient capital markets for business investment; Help communities and workers transition to a better future; Invest in an advanced transportation infrastructure; Ensure market access and a level playing field; Improve the general business climate, especially for manufacturing.
In order to accomplish these goals, the document highlights some needed initiatives, including:
investment in education and retraining; increased budgets for research and development, with tax credits for research and a doubling of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP); expanded capital access for new businesses and exporters, with tax credits and loan guarantees for renewable energy projects; promotion of regional innovation clusters and expanded Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), with targeted assistance for auto industry workers and aid for communities in transition; investment in mass transit, high-speed rail, clean city infrastructure, a modernized electric grid, and creation of an infrastructure investment bank; opening of markets abroad, enforcement of trade agreements, and promotion of exports; and, a shifting of tax incentives for outsourcing toward businesses that create domestic jobs.
Overall, the manufacturing framework represents a sweeping set of proposals with a wide vision for revitalizing both the nation's domestic manufacturing base and creating new jobs for the 21st Century.
Concluded Paul, "This framework recognizes the many avenues involved in rebuilding our industrial sector. There isn't a quick fix, or one key approach. But we're very appreciative that the Administration grasps the magnitude of the work ahead. We look forward to working with the Administration and Congress to help to foster the conditions needed for sustainable growth and the creation of good new jobs. We're hopeful that this framework will unleash innovation, launch some of the key industries of the future, and get America back to work."
The Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) is a unique non-partisan, non-profit partnership forged to strengthen manufacturing in the U.S. AAM brings together a select group of America's leading manufacturers and the United Steelworkers. Our mission is to promote creative policy solutions on priorities such as international trade, energy security, health care, retirement security, currency manipulation, and other issues of mutual concern.
Washington, DC -- The Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) today praised the Obama Administration's new "Framework for Revitalizing American Manufacturing." The document comes at a crisis moment for the nation's industrial sector, which has lost more than 5 million jobs and 51,000 factories over the past decade.
"We are extremely heartened to see the Administration not only recognize the importance of domestic manufacturing to the overall economy but to also go on record and acknowledge that certain government policies can help to revitalize the sector," said Scott Paul, Executive Director of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM). "As obvious as it would seem, the Administration's recognition of unfair foreign trade practices and the need for substantial investment in infrastructure and research and development represents an important step in breaking from the failed approaches of the past."
AAM has long argued for a cohesive national manufacturing strategy, one that has been sorely lacking in recent decades. Any sensible manufacturing strategy should focus on investments in infrastructure, research and development, enforcement of trade laws, opening of foreign markets, expanded skills and training for workers, access to capital, and sensible tax policies. AAM believes the manufacturing framework appropriately addresses these areas.
Specifically, the Administration's manufacturing framework offers seven key goals: Provide workers with the opportunity to obtain the skills necessary to be highly productive; Invest in the creation of new technologies and business practices; Develop stable and efficient capital markets for business investment; Help communities and workers transition to a better future; Invest in an advanced transportation infrastructure; Ensure market access and a level playing field; Improve the general business climate, especially for manufacturing.
In order to accomplish these goals, the document highlights some needed initiatives, including:
investment in education and retraining; increased budgets for research and development, with tax credits for research and a doubling of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP); expanded capital access for new businesses and exporters, with tax credits and loan guarantees for renewable energy projects; promotion of regional innovation clusters and expanded Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), with targeted assistance for auto industry workers and aid for communities in transition; investment in mass transit, high-speed rail, clean city infrastructure, a modernized electric grid, and creation of an infrastructure investment bank; opening of markets abroad, enforcement of trade agreements, and promotion of exports; and, a shifting of tax incentives for outsourcing toward businesses that create domestic jobs.
Overall, the manufacturing framework represents a sweeping set of proposals with a wide vision for revitalizing both the nation's domestic manufacturing base and creating new jobs for the 21st Century.
Concluded Paul, "This framework recognizes the many avenues involved in rebuilding our industrial sector. There isn't a quick fix, or one key approach. But we're very appreciative that the Administration grasps the magnitude of the work ahead. We look forward to working with the Administration and Congress to help to foster the conditions needed for sustainable growth and the creation of good new jobs. We're hopeful that this framework will unleash innovation, launch some of the key industries of the future, and get America back to work."
The Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) is a unique non-partisan, non-profit partnership forged to strengthen manufacturing in the U.S. AAM brings together a select group of America's leading manufacturers and the United Steelworkers. Our mission is to promote creative policy solutions on priorities such as international trade, energy security, health care, retirement security, currency manipulation, and other issues of mutual concern.
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