Congressman John D. Dingell

Washington, D.C. - In a victory for manufacturers across the country, a House Appropriations Subcommittee included $106 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) for fiscal year 2005 in today’s markup of the Commerce-Justice-State Appropriations Bill. Earlier this year, 161 House members, including Representative John D. Dingell (MI-15), signed a letter to the Committee asking for restored funding for MEP, a public-private partnership that helps small-sized to medium-sized manufacturers remain competitive in the global marketplace.

MEP funding was cut from $106 million to $39.6 million in fiscal year 2004. The Bush Administration's budget request froze MEP funding at the $39.6 level for 2005, effectively gutting the program.

“I am pleased that my colleagues on the Committee rejected the Administration’s request to slash funding for MEP this year. This is a good first step in the process of fully funding this much needed program and supporting American manufacturers,” Dingell said.

Nationwide, 2.8 million manufacturing jobs have been lost in the past three and a half years. The United States has 350,000 small-sized to medium-sized manufacturing companies that employ fewer than 500 people. Together, these companies employ 7 million workers.

“The MEP program is vital to Michigan and the nation,” Dingell said. “It makes sense for our government to make investments in businesses that can then provide jobs, revenue and innovation. In a sense, MEP pays for itself, and I am happy the Subcommittee recognized that.”

The legislation now moves to the full Appropriations Committee before being considered by the full House of Representatives later this summer.