Washington, DC - House Democrats are fighting for American manufacturers and the millions of American workers in the manufacturing industry.  They have put together a package of bills designed to strengthen manufacturing infrastructure and innovation as well as help to level the playing field for American companies so they can successfully compete globally.  The ‘Make it in America’ agenda is made up of a number of bills, including three brought up on the House Floor for consideration today: the National Manufacturing Strategy Act of 2010, the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act of 2010, and the End the Trade Deficit Act.  Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following remarks on those three bills.

H.R.4692 : National Manufacturing Strategy Act of 2010
This bill would require the President to develop and update a national manufacturing strategy every four years.

“It is crucial that the federal government support domestic manufacturing, which has been a traditional driver of middle-class growth.  I am particularly glad that H.R. 4692 includes a requirement that the President consult with organized labor in appointing members to the advisory group that will help him draft the strategy. 

“Further, I view this legislation as part and parcel to the federal government’s ongoing efforts to create much-needed jobs and adapt the country’s economy to the future.  I am quite gratified to see that H.R. 4692 rightly directs that the manufacturing strategy it mandates include an examination of the detrimental effect of unfair trade practices on domestic manufacturing.  I firmly believe the federal government must do all it can to ensure our trading partners play by the rules in order to foster sustainable employment growth at home.

H.R.5156 : Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act of 2010
Legislation that would create a $15 million Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Fund to help increase the competitiveness of American-made clean technology industry here in the U.S. and in the international marketplace.

“This bill will build up domestic manufacturing by promoting exports of clean energy technologies and help the U.S. develop an early competitive advantage in this area. 

“To those who object to the bill’s cost, I would remind them that H.R. 5156 is an authorization, not an appropriation.  Moreover, should funds be appropriated, H.R. 5156 will more than pay for itself through the growth in tax receipts from increased corporate revenue.  The Department of Commerce estimates that every dollar invested in export promotion generates $56 worth of exports.  Thus, at a corporate tax rate of 35 percent, additional revenues of only $40 million per year would have to be generated to cover the bill’s annual $15 million authorization.  This is more than doable based on the Commerce Department’s export promotion cost-benefit analysis.

H.R. 1875: End the Trade Deficit Act
Legislation that will direct establishment of a commission to develop a trade policy plan that will eliminate the U.S. merchandise trade deficit and develop a competitive trade policy for the 21st century.

“At a time of nascent national economic recovery, we have the opportunity to right the policy failures of the past.  This is particularly important with respect to trade.  I have long criticized the NAFTA trade agreement model for its detrimental effect on this country’s manufacturing base.  Indeed, with the implementation of NAFTA and CAFTA, we have witnessed the off-shoring of millions of good-paying American jobs. 

“I am particularly pleased that this report, which will include recommendations for administrative and legislative actions to reduce this deficit, must be submitted to the Congress and the President prior to the President’s submitting any free trade agreement to the House and Senate for approval.

Dingell concluded, “If my Republican colleagues truly are concerned about creating jobs and helping this nation recover economically, they should cease being nattering nabobs of negativity, as one of their own put it years ago, and join with Democrats in this most important effort.”