Congressman Dan Lipinski’s (IL-3) bipartisan legislation to boost domestic manufacturing and American jobs by requiring a National Strategic Plan for Manufacturing has been signed into law.  The bill requires that at least every four years the President work with public and private stakeholders to produce and publish a plan to promote American manufacturing.  In addition, every year the President’s budget blueprint will have to contain an explanation of how it promotes the most recent manufacturing strategy.  Lipinski’s bill, which passed the House three times over the past five years, was included in legislation that passed both houses and was signed into law by the President last week.  Sen. Mark Kirk (IL) had introduced the bill in the Senate and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (IL-16) was the lead Republican co-sponsor in the House.

“From my days growing up near Midway Airport, I have understood how important manufacturing is to good middle-class jobs, strong communities, and America’s defense,” said Rep. Lipinski.  “Since I have been in Congress, I have been relentlessly working to bring Washington around to understanding this also, and to producing policies that promote American manufacturing.  This bipartisan bill guarantees that Washington has to pay attention to what can be done to help manufacturers and workers.  This law can make a real difference by leading to economic growth, increased American security, and more middle class jobs that pay hard-working Americans a family wage.  I want to thank Mark Kirk for his leadership on this bill in the Senate and Adam Kinzinger for his help in the House.”

“The people of Illinois reflect the highest work ethic of the Midwest,” said Senator Kirk.  “It’s those men and women who keep me optimistic about the future of Illinois and the future of manufacturing as a pillar of the Illinois economy.”

Based on the Quadrennial Defense Review – the Pentagon's policy planning process – Lipinski’s plan requires that every four years the President consults with manufacturing experts from the private and the public sectors to assess the state of American manufacturing and make recommendations for policies that will help grow American manufacturing.  The factors that impact manufacturing that will be explored include technology transfer and commercialization activities; the adequacy of the national security base; the capabilities of the domestic manufacturing workforce; export opportunities and trade policies; financing, investment, and taxation policies and practices; emerging technologies and markets; manufacturing research and development undertaken by competing nations; and the capabilities of the manufacturing workforce of competing nations.

“This a big victory for a sector of our economy that over the years has provided so many high quality jobs in my district, in our region, and across the nation, but has taken many hits over the past couple of decades, especially during the recent recession,” said Rep Lipinski.  “While manufacturing is by-and-large a private, market endeavor, few can disagree that government policy impacts manufacturing in countless ways.  It is essential that the U.S. join many of our competitors in assessing these policies in a comprehensive, coordinated approach.  Manufacturing is the linchpin of our economy and the foundation of our middle class, and I promise to continue working to see that manufacturing in this country is strengthened and provided with the tools necessary to thrive.”