Over the past decade, almost one-third of American manufacturing jobs have disappeared. After 110 years as the world's top manufacturing country, the United States is about to lose that perch to China. We all know how hard it is when we go anywhere to buy toys, tools--whatever it is, we know how hard it is to find ''made in the USA'' on a label, but American manufacturing job loss is not inevitable, and I do not accept the notion that there is nothing that we can do. Clearly, another decade like the last one would dramatically undermine the American middle class and our national security.

That is why I introduced the National Manufacturing Strategy Act. I worked with business, labor, and trade organizations to make this a bipartisan bill with broad support, and I submit for the Record letters of this support from some of these organizations.

The Strategy Act requires the President to appoint a board composed of government and private-sector personnel to conduct an in-depth analysis of American manufacturing. Then they must produce a strategy that includes short-term and long-term goals for creating jobs, improving domestic production, investment, international competitiveness, and for assuring an adequate defense industrial base.

Finally, the President and the board must deliver specific recommendations for accomplishing these goals. Like America's Quadrennial Defense Review, the manufacturing strategy will be updated every 4 years, enabling us to build upon successful initiatives while correcting course as necessary. The Government Accountability Office will have to produce an analysis of progress on the implementation of the strategy. All of this is designed to make sure that the board is producing something and that we are following through on it.

Mr. Speaker, the passage of the National Manufacturing Strategy Act will ensure that American manufacturing remains on the national agenda. Numerous other countries already have manufacturing strategies, including not only China and India, but the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, Japan, and Germany. It is about time that America does the same before it is too late for middle class Americans and for our national security.

Some may say that the time for American manufacturing has passed. I don't believe this. I know that American manufacturers can compete with anyone in the world if we have a level playing field and if we are planning ahead. In my district, from Atlas Tool & Die, to Corey Steel, to Archer Wire, to West Bend, to ODM, they are just a few of the manufacturers who are making it and are having a difficult time, but they can do it. All American manufacturers can do it because America has the greatest manufacturers in the world.

I would like to thank Majority Leader Hoyer and Caucus Chairman Larson for bringing this bill to the floor. I would like to thank Congressman Braley for his work on this, along with Chairman Bobby Rush and Ranking Member Whitfield for the work that they did in improving this bill. Thank you for your comments.

I wanted to make sure that we made this a strong bipartisan bill that we could agree upon. There are a lot of issues that are out there, and I believe we must continue to promote policies to help create jobs immediately. We are not going to agree on all of those, but I think this is something that we can agree upon. The National Manufacturing Strategy Act establishes a process for strengthening American manufacturing over the long term, and it is something that we must do.

I ask my colleagues today to support this important legislation. Pass this bill.

(July 28, 2010)