Building a New Manufacturing Economy

Congresswoman Speier believes that high-tech manufacturing can play a vital role in our nation’s future. Through innovation, education and changes in public policy, the United States can maintain its competitive edge in the global marketplace, but we need to establish a national manufacturing strategy that involves the following:

Supporting Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Education

There’s a shortage of qualified manufacturing workers—with 600,000 positions currently unfilled in the U.S. American job-seekers sometimes lack the technical skills to work in the fields that have the most opportunities, and some businesses may be unable to provide the training necessary for these positions. To reconstruct our economy we need better prepared students excelling in the right programs. We are losing the brain race, with two-thirds of US 8th graders below proficiency in math and science and too few students pursuing higher education in STEM majors. In San Francisco, for example, there are 25 job openings for every graduate from a relevant computer major, according to one estimate.

We should foster skill sets in young people that enable easier transitions from school to work, providing them with the technical and problem-solving skills to help them succeed in these fields. Congresswoman Speier has supported federal funding for the training of K-12 teachers in better strategies to teach math and science. She has supported grants to hone the skills of underserved students at community and four-year colleges, including Cañada College and Notre Dame de Namur University. She has also supported requests for local and regional training centers that prepare students for skilled trades that use science and math. Nationally, the federal government should increase its support of college students who wish to teach science and math skills in K-12 schools.

Raising Awareness

Congresswoman Speier tours Kelly-Moore Paints in San Carlos on July 13, 2012

Congresswoman Speier is elevating public consciousness about the benefits of American manufacturing. She hosts an annual “Make it in America” exhibit at the San Mateo County Fair, regularly visits local manufacturers and is introducing a bill that would require more detailed labels indicating manufacturing locations.

Creating Fair Tax Policies

We must create a business climate that supports domestic manufacturing companies and end the disgraceful tax policies that reward companies for shipping American jobs overseas. That’s why Congresswoman Speier has cosponsored the Bring Home Jobs Act, which eliminates the tax deduction for moving expenses for companies sending jobs overseas and provides a new tax credit for companies that bring jobs back to the U.S. She also supports making the Research and Development Tax Credit permanent.

BILLS

Congresswoman Speier has co-sponsored the following “Make it in America” bills:

• H.R. 402: National Infrastructure Development Bank Act of 2011: Establishes a wholly-owned government corporation to facilitate efficient investments in and financing of infrastructure projects—from leading-edge broadband networks and energy delivery systems to modern ports—that foster economic development and keep America competitive.
• H.R. 639: Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act: Levels the trade playing field by holding accountable countries that create an unfair trade advantage by manipulating their currency.
• H.R. 679: Berry Amendment Extension Act: Bars the Department of Homeland Security from buying clothing, tents and other products that are not "grown, reprocessed, reused or produced" in America.
• H.R. 1380: New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2011: Provides incentives to encourage private investment in natural gas refueling infrastructure and the production and purchasing of natural gas vehicles and trucks.
• H.R. 1716: Job Opportunities Between our Shores (JOBS) Act: Establishes a Workforce Investment Act pilot program to provide education and training programs in advanced manufacturing.
• H.R. 5542: Bring Jobs Home Act: Eliminates the tax deduction for moving expenses for companies sending jobs overseas and provides a new tax credit for companies that bring jobs back to the U.S.

OP-EDS BY CONGRESSWOMAN SPEIER ON “MAKE IT IN AMERICA”

San Mateo Daily Journal and Huffington Post: Make it in America once again
San Jose Mercury News: To encourage U.S. industry, buy Made in America

SIX FACTS ABOUT AMERICAN MANUFACTURING:

Congresswoman Speier visits messenger bag manufacturer Timbukt2 in San Francisco on August 7, 2012.

1. The U.S. is still the world’s top manufacturer.

• We produce 21% of global manufactured products.
• Manufacturing accounts for $1.7 trillion of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product.

2. A healthy manufacturing sector has a ripple effect on the economy.

• On average, each manufacturing job supports 2.5 jobs in other sectors and each high­tech manufacturing job supports sixteen others.
• Each dollar in final sales of manufactured goods supports $1.35 in output from other sectors of the economy.

3. There’s a skills gap for advanced manufacturing jobs.

• 82 percent of manufacturers report moderate-to-serious shortages of skilled manufacturing candidates.
• 74 percent of manufacturers reported that the skills gap has affected their ability to expand operations.

4. Manufacturing in China is no longer the bargain it once was:

• Labor costs have surged by 20% a year for the past four years.
• If China’s currency and shipping costs were to rise by 5% each year and wages were to go up by 30% a year, it would be just as cheap to make things in North America as to make them in China and ship them here by 2015, according to an estimate by the consulting firm AlixPartners.
  

5. Consumers can make a difference

• ABC News estimated that 200,000 new jobs could be created if every American spent just $64 more per year on American-made products.

6. The Bay Area is the perfect place to start

• The Bay Area has the 19th largest economy in the world.
• Technology and high-end manufacturing have been growing faster here than the rest of the country.
• We are home to more of the fastest growing companies than anywhere else in the United States and we far surpass other regions for numbers of patents granted.