WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), and Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) today applauded the Commerce Committee's passage of their American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act, which was introduced in Committee by Senator Pryor as an amendment to the Brown-Blunt Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2013. The Coons-Kirk legislation, introduced last fall, is co-sponsored by Senators Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa). The bill would require the development of a national manufacturing strategy in order to better support American manufacturers that employ more than 12 million Americans.

“Growing our manufacturing sector is the key to bringing high-quality, middle class jobs back to this country,” Senator Coons said. “While many of our global competitors have thoroughly developed strategies for supporting and sustaining manufacturing growth, the U.S. government does not have a coordinated strategy for supporting our manufacturers. Developing a national strategy that looks at skills training, R&D, trade, and other key factors will help ensure our manufacturers have the resources to compete and succeed on the global market. I’m grateful to my colleagues on the Commerce Committee for their support of this important measure, as well as the underlying Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act, and hope this legislation will proceed quickly to a vote on the Senate floor.”

"Manufacturing in Illinois accounts for 13.3% of our state's economic output," Senator Kirk said. "Our nation's competitiveness relies on our ability to create stable jobs, which boost our local economies and increase our country's economic standing abroad. This bill will help to ensure that our nation becomes more competitive and continues to contribute nearly $2 trillion to our economy annually. I urge the full Senate to swiftly pass this legislation in order to secure more high-paying, quality jobs for millions of Americans."

“America is a powerhouse when it comes to manufacturing, but there’s more we can do to ensure ‘Made in America’ remains the gold standard around the world,” Senator Pryor said. “My common-sense amendment gives us the blueprint we need to maintain and expand the manufacturing industry, strengthen our economy, and create jobs here at home. I hope the Senate will take up and pass this bill immediately."

Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.-3) introduced companion legislation in the House last year.

Senator Pryor's amendment – a modification of the Coons-Kirk American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act, S. 1709 – to the Brown-Blunt legislation would require the President to submit to Congress an updated National Strategic Plan for Advanced Manufacturing every four years. While the United States government has numerous programs spread throughout several federal departments and agencies aimed at supporting manufacturing, there is no cohesive national strategy aimed to ensure these programs are successfully working together toward the unified goal of revitalizing American manufacturing. 

Additionally, the legislation would requires the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Steering Committee of the President’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology to provide recommendations to assist in the updates to the strategic plan.

Over 17 million jobs are linked to the manufacturing industry. This legislation is bipartisan, and would not increase government spending.

Organizations supportive of the Coons-Kirk legislation include:

·      AFL-CIO

·      Alliance for American Manufacturing

·      American Iron and Steel Institute

·      American Small Manufacturers Coalition

·      Archer Daniels Midland

·      AMT – The Association for Manufacturing Technology

·      Campbell Soup

·      The Dow Chemical Company

·      DuPont

·      General Aviation Manufacturers Association

·      IBM

·      International Association of Machinists

·      Johnson & Johnson

·      Magno International

·      NACFAM – National Council for Advanced Manufacturing

·      National Defense Industrial Association

·      National Tooling and Machining Association

·      North American Die Casting Association

·      Permac Industries

·      Precision Machined Products Association

·      Precision Metalforming Association

·      United Autoworkers

·      United Steelworkers