Upton calls strengthening domestic manufacturing a ‘critical mission’

To help ramp up manufacturing stateside, a section of the U.S. Commerce Department website would be designated to serve as a hub for connecting manufacturers with federal manufacturing programs under a bipartisan bill introduced on Dec. 14 by U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI).

“Strengthening domestic manufacturing, which has unfortunately declined over the last couple decades, is a top priority for me and a critical mission as we look to compete with China and emerge as a global and economic leader in the 21st Century,” Rep. Upton said earlier this week.

The Manufacturing.gov Act, H.R. 6290, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), is the companion bill to the same-named S. 1037, introduced in March by U.S. Sens. Todd Young (R-IL) and Gary Peters (D-MI), and approved by the U.S. Senate on Sept. 30. 

If enacted, the measure would require that the newly established website hub provide the contact information for relevant program offices carrying out federal manufacturing programs; provide an avenue for public input and feedback related to these programs; and host web pages that focus on topics such as trade, workforce development, and small and medium manufacturers, according to the congressional record bill summary.

According to the congressman’s office, the bill addresses a March 2017 U.S. Government Accountability Office report that found the federal government maintains 58 different manufacturing programs across 11 federal agencies — making it difficult for manufacturers to access federal programs.

“Now more than ever, we need to take steps today to secure our supply chain and bring manufacturing jobs back to Michigan and the United States,” said Rep. Upton. “This bipartisan legislation will give our local manufacturers in southwest Michigan another tool in the toolbox to optimize their daily operations, build products that Americans use every day, and create good-paying jobs.” 

H.R. 6290 has been referred to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration.