Archive: Business & Technology

Congressmen Tom Reed (R-NY) and Joe Kennedy (D-MA) today announced the introduction of the bipartisan Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2013 (RAMI). The bill creates a network of regional institutes across the country designed to commercialize research and development into manufactured products, train an advanced manufacturing workforce, and support manufacturers of all sizes. A companion bill was also introduced in the Senate by Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH).

“Our goal with this bill is to revitalize our American manufacturing, a major key to revitalizing our country’s economy,” Reed said. “As demand grows for highly-skilled workers, it’s increasingly important we bridge the workforce development gap to fill in-demand positions. As Co-Chair of the House Manufacturing Committee we hear from manufacturers of all sizes about the need to coordinate education and training efforts. Creating a network of regional institutions across the country will support the kind of education needed for high-paying, high-tech manufacturing jobs. With this infrastructure in place, we can grow domestic manufacturing and put Americans back to work.”

The Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act creates public-private partnerships to bring together manufacturers, local businesses, universities and community colleges to encourage manufacturing and new technology innovation through coordinating resources. RAMI directs the Secretary of Commerce to aid in the establishment of institutes, each dedicated to a specific manufacturing technology or process with the shared goal of increasing the global competiveness of United States manufacturers.

“This country’s manufacturing base lies at the epicenter of efforts to address some of our greatest economic challenges,” said Congressman Kennedy. “From still-stubborn unemployment rates to trade deficits and income inequality: a national manufacturing policy is essential to putting this country back on solid economic footing.  This national network will be smart and strategic in addressing perennial manufacturing challenges, building an infrastructure from the local level up that is directly tapped into the unique regional challenges US manufacturers face. Best of all, these institutes will be incubators for the kind of strong, middle-class workforce that our economic recovery depends on. I’m grateful that Congressman Reed would join me in this effort and look forward to building on the broad bipartisan support we have already received.”

The bill was introduced in the Senate by Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH):

“This bipartisan bill will bring together public and private agencies, businesses, universities, and other organizations to establish a dynamic National Network for Manufacturing Innovation,” Senator Blunt said. “Through this important network of partnerships we can help to accelerate new manufacturing technologies from the research and development phase through the production phase and bolster private sector job creation in America.”

“This is about providing the manufacturing infrastructure in this country to retain our competitive edge. Our bipartisan bill would also ensure that American workers, universities, and large and small manufacturers can out-compete and out-innovate the rest of the world,” Senator Brown said. “We know that manufacturing has strong ripple effects on the rest of our economy and helped build America’s middle class. That is why I am glad to join Senator Blunt, along with Rep. Reed and Rep. Kennedy, in introducing this bill which would create a Network of Manufacturing Innovation. The Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2013 would ensure that we don’t cede our American leadership to countries that are racing to get ahead.”

The network would be funded through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Institutes are chosen for participation based on a merit-based review process.

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