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U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
Revitalizing
American Manufacturing and Innovation
One of my most important jobs is to advocate for working families in
Ohio. Middle-class families have felt squeezed by the number of jobs
going overseas, especially in the manufacturing sector. A report
released last week from the Economic Policy Institute found that from
2001 to 2013, the U.S. lost 2.4 million manufacturing jobs to China
alone.
Ohio has long been a leader in manufacturing, but in order to remain
competitive we must invest in the future. That means investing in
advanced manufacturing that will help American companies out-compete
and out-innovate our foreign competitors. Last week, Congress took a
large step toward making that investment by passing my bipartisan
legislation, the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act
(RAMI).
RAMI – which I introduced along with Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) – would
create a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation to establish a
public-private partnerships between small businesses, industry leaders,
and research institutions, giving them the tools they need to compete
on a global scale. These regional, industry-led hubs could create
thousands of high-paying, high-tech manufacturing jobs for
next-generation workers. The legislation passed both the House and
Senate last week, and now heads to the President’s desk for final
signature.
The Ohio State University’s (OSU) Center for Emergent Materials (CEM)
is a prime example of how collaborative partnerships can bolster
manufacturing. The Center – which will receive more than $17 million in
funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) over the next six
years – is part of a network of material science labs across the
country working together to encourage innovation. The Center also
partners with local private enterprises like Lake Shore Cryotronics in
Westerville on research and development to advance the field of
magnetoelectronics. This is the kind of effort that can collaborate
with a National Network of Manufacturing Innovation.
Earlier this year, the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing
Innovation Institute (ALMMII) – the sort of National Network for
Manufacturing Innovation that will be created by RAMI – was announced
by the Administration. Co-led by OSU, the University of Michigan, and
Columbus’s Edison Welding Institute, this ALMMII will promote advanced
lightweight materials technology – efforts that will advance
manufacturing, like the technology being developed at the Center for
Emergent Materials. This project is estimated to create more than
10,000 new jobs in the next five years. With this investment in our
workers and businesses, the United States will once again lead the
world in manufacturing and innovation.
The first manufacturing network created was America Makes in Youngstown
and President Obama has established other institutes across the country.
Innovation is key to our nation’s economic competitiveness. We have the
knowledge and expertise right here at home to lead the world in
next-generation manufacturing. I’m proud of the message that passing
RAMI sends: The United States will not settle for second place when it
comes to manufacturing. Made in the USA is here to stay.
Sincerely,
Sherrod Brown
U.S. Senator
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