Washington, D.C. — This morning in Weirton, Rep. David B. McKinley, P.E. (R-W.V.) joined with local business leaders to discuss the future of manufacturing in the Ohio River Valley.

“Driving up and down the Ohio River you see just how hard our area has been hit by the decline of steel and manufacturing,” said McKinley. “The loss of jobs due to unfair foreign competition, excessive regulations, and other factors has hurt communities like Weirton, Follansbee, and Newell.”

“We have a responsibility to protect the jobs we already have and find areas where manufacturers can grow and create jobs,” added McKinley.

The roundtable meeting included representatives from local businesses including Coil Slitting International, Ergon, ArcelorMittal, and Wheeling Nisshin, as well as leaders from the Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Brooke-Hancock Business Development Corporation.

The discussion covered a wide range of topics including workforce development, infrastructure, burdensome regulations, health care, and taxes.

“It’s important to listen to the challenges these businesses are facing and find ways to help them,” said McKinley. “We don’t have all the answers in Washington. We are able to take ideas from meetings like this one and take action.”

“With low cost energy, an ideal geographic location, and a skilled workforce, West Virginia can once again be a center of manufacturing and create good-paying jobs,” said McKinley. “I look forward to working together with business leaders to make this happen.”

McKinley has introduced and sponsored several bills and amendments to help revitalize manufacturing including:

• The “Manufacturing Economic Recovery Act” (H.R. 1522), which would provide a tax credit for companies that acquire, invest, and create jobs in empty manufacturing facilities.

• The “American Manufacturing and Worker Protection Act” (H.R. 4322), which provides money to companies and employees who lost jobs and wages due to unfair foreign competition.

• The “Economic Recovery On-the-Job Training Act” (H.R. 3524) which would direct money for job training in economically disadvantaged areas.

• An amendment to the Fiscal Year 2015 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill to help small companies fight unfair trade at the International Trade Commission; and

• The “Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act” (H.R. 2996) which was sponsored by McKinley and passed the House in September. This bill would create regional manufacturing hubs where manufacturers, colleges and universities can partner to ensure workers have necessary skills and create a center for research and development.

McKinley is also a member of the House Manufacturing Caucus.