Washington, DC - Today, Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) gave the following remarks at a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection hearing on H.R. 4692, the National Manufacturing Strategy Act of 2010:

“I commend you, Mr. Chairman, for holding a hearing on H.R. 4692, the National Manufacturing Strategy Act of 2010, of which I am an original co-sponsor.  I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of our witnesses today.  I regret that Ron Bloom, who played a key and greatly appreciated role in averting disaster in the domestic automobile industry, cannot be with us to express his views on the bill.

“I strongly disagree with the views of those who consider manufacturing an anathema to advanced economies.  Quite to the contrary, several of our most prominent trading partners employ national strategies to support domestic economic growth in manufacturing.  China and Germany, most notably, use these strategies to aid their continued global leadership in the export of manufactured goods.  Indeed, and as is particularly the case with Germany, these manufacturing exports need not be low value-added, but rather technologically advanced goods of consistently high quality produced by very skilled workers.  For example, as global demand for clean energy technologies continues to grow, the strategy mandated under H.R. 4692 could help the United States develop and maintain a competitive position in this important market. 

“In brief, 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. 

“I note this bill comes at a time when my home state of Michigan continues to endure record unemployment levels, largely due to the hemorrhaging of manufacturing jobs caused by a decade of unfair trade policies.  I believe H.R. 4692 will serve to right past failed policies and, as such, I very passionately support its expedited consideration and adoption. 

“I look forward to a frank discussion with our witnesses today about their views on H.R. 4692. 

“Thank you for your courtesy, Mr. Chairman, and I yield back the balance of my time.”

H.R. 4962 would require the President to issue a National Manufacturing Strategy every four years.  To aid the President in drafting this strategy, H.R. 4962 mandates the creation of a Manufacturing Strategy Task Force and a Manufacturing Strategy Board, comprised of the heads of various federal agencies and representatives from labor and industry, respectively.  The National Manufacturing Strategy would take into account developments in technology, the workforce, and the international environment in order to help U.S. manufacturers move into markets of the future.  Congressman Dingell is an original co-sponsor of this legislation.