Promoting American Manufacturing

Now, more than ever it is important that we get our factories up and running again. That is why I support a new legislative initiative designed to increase American manufacturing and create new American jobs. When we invest in manufacturing, we invest in our future. My aim is to invest in industry and innovation, improve America’s manufacturing infrastructure, strengthen our workforce and create a level playing field for American companies to compete.

For generations, manufacturing has been the backbone of our economy. And, for generations, Arkansans have looked upon their role in the manufacturing sector with a sense of pride. Arkansas manufacturers employ over 200,000 people, and as your Congressman for Arkansas Fourth Congressional District, I am committed to supporting smart policies that will strengthen the industry for those workers today and provide resources to create more of these jobs in the future.

One of the key components in this plan is to ensure that American manufactures have the resources they need to be competitive. That is why I voted for The U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act. This bill makes it cheaper for American companies to obtain the materials they need to manufacture goods. It also includes tariff reductions and suspensions for American companies to help them expand, stay competitive and create more jobs.

We also need to make sure the American workforce has the resources and skills to meet the challenges of the 21st century. That is why I supported The SECTORS Act, because it establishes partnerships between businesses and educators to train workers for the high-tech jobs the future will require.

I also supported The National Manufacturing Strategy Act, which directs the President to work with industry and state leaders to build a manufacturing-boosting strategy every four years. This is the same kind of strategy that our overseas competitors in the manufacturing industry already have in place. This strategy will identify goals for how we can best support the growth of American manufacturers into the markets of the future.

If we are going to encourage a resurgence in the American manufacturing industry, then Congress needs to lead the way. That is why I voted for The Congressional Made in America Promise Act because it calls on Congress to buy goods and services made by American workers for the first time since “Buy American” rules were instituted for federal agencies under President Roosevelt in 1933. These rules institute strict “Buy American” requirements for any item with the seal of Congress, the House, or Senate.

Another piece of legislation that I supported is The Berry Amendment Extension Act which bars the Department of Homeland Security from buying clothing, tents or any other product that is not grown, reprocessed, reused or produced in the United States. For the last 60 years, the Berry Amendment has served our nation well – requiring the Defense Department to buy a range of items with 100% American content. This bill will directly benefit the American textile industry, including manufacturers right here in Arkansas’s Fourth Congressional District.

In addition, I supported The All American Flag Act which requires federal government agencies to purchase only flags that contain 100 percent American-made materials. At the current time the federal government is only required to buy flags which are made of 50 percent U.S.-made materials. By requiring the government to buy flags that are 100 percent American-made, we will help American businesses and make a vital statement about this important national symbol.

I also voted for The Rural Energy Savings Act, a bill that I co-sponsored. This bill will spur job creation in the new American clean energy industry and strengthen rural economies that have been hit hard by our economic downturn. This measure will provide loans to American families and farmers to improve their energy efficiency and lower their utility bills, creating American manufacturing and installation jobs in the process.

I also recently testified before the USITC in support of the many Arkansans who work in the paper and wood products industry. In Arkansas, the paper products industry is critical to the growth of our economy, unfortunately increasing quantities of low-priced, heavily subsidized imports have cost American jobs and devastated working families and their communities. That is why I made clear to the Commission that American trade policies must ensure that American products are given a level playing field – the same set of rules that apply to U.S. manufacturers should apply to foreign companies.

American innovation and work ethic are the reason why the label “Made in America” is admired throughout the world. For Arkansas, this means making sure that manufacturing success isn’t simply a proud part of our history, but the foundation of our future.