The Manufacturing Enhancement Act is part of the “Make It in America” package designed to promote American competitiveness, innovation and exports

Washington, DC - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4380, the U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act by a vote of 378 - 43.  The bill will help American manufacturers compete at home and abroad by temporarily suspending or reducing duties on intermediate products or materials these companies use that are not made domestically or opposed by domestic producers.  Under the legislation, domestic manufacturers will continue to have access to approximately 600 imported items not produced in the U.S. at reduced prices.  Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following remarks about the bill:

“Reinvigorating American manufacturing must be a top priority as we work recover from this terrible recession,” Dingell said.  “I’m glad to see Republicans jump on board to provide valuable bipartisan support for this bill.  Of the 639 provisions in this bill, 318 of them come from Republicans and 320 from Democrats.  Making it easier for manufacturers to get materials not made here at reduced costs will keep factories going and people in their jobs.

“I also wish to congratulate Speaker Pelosi for her newly announced ‘Make It In America’ initiative.  In the next two weeks, my colleagues and I in the House will work together to pass a number of bills that will bolster domestic manufacturing and put people back to work, especially in places like Michigan.  I hope that my Republican colleagues will lend their support to these important measures.”

In addition to his support of the Speaker’s manufacturing agenda, Congressman Dingell is a co-sponsor of the following pro-manufacturing bills:

H.R.2212 : 21st Century Energy Technology Deployment Act
Legislation that will promote the domestic development and deployment of clean energy technologies required for the 21st century.

H.R. 2454 : The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009
Passed last year, this bill directs the distribution of allowances for advanced technology vehicles and plug-in electric vehicle manufacturing and deployment through the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Program, or “Section 136” program.  It also includes the establishment of a Clean Energy Investment Bank to provide various types of credit to support the research and development and deployment of clean energy technologies including loans, loan guarantees, and other credit enhancements as well as secondary market support to develop products such as clean energy-backed bonds that would allow less expensive lending in the private sector.

H.R.3246 : Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009
The House passed this bill, authored by Michigan Congressman Gary Peters, that strengthens and reauthorizes the Department of Energy Vehicle Technologies Program -- investing in a diverse range of near-term and long-term vehicle technologies that will improve fuel efficiency, support domestic research and manufacturing, and lead to greater consumer choice of vehicle technologies and fuels.

H.R.3367 : Heavy Duty Hybrid Truck Incentives Improvement Act of 2009
Ways and Means Chairman Sander Levin is the lead sponsor of this bill which would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend and modify the credit for new qualified hybrid motor vehicles.

H.R.4629 : Manufacturing Modernization and Diversification Act of 2010
Michigan Congressmen Dingell, Levin and Gary Peters worked together to write this bill, which will help manufacturers to access the financing they need to expand, diversify, and hire new workers.

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

H.R.4850 : American Job Creation and Investment Act
The bill would enable companies to accelerate the use of alternative minimum tax (AMT) credits to create and maintain U.S. jobs and stimulate new investment in American plants and equipment.

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.