Manufacturing jobs bill clears House of Representatives

Bipartisan manufacturing jobs legislation written by U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) cleared the U.S. House of Representatives on September 15.

The Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act (RAMI) would establish a National Network of Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) and create thousands of high-paying, high-tech manufacturing jobs while enhancing the United States’ role as the world’s leader in advanced manufacturing. Later this week, Brown will speak at a briefing on NNMI.

“This bill keeps innovation and production here at home,” Brown said. “Our nation is most successful when we work together – and a Network for Manufacturing Innovation would foster public-private partnerships that give small businesses, industry leaders, and research institutions the tools they need to compete on a global scale. These regional, industry-led hubs will leverage local expertise and will create thousands of high-paying, high-tech manufacturing jobs for American workers.”

The House companion legislation – which passed by voice vote – is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Tom Reed (D-NY-23). In April, the Senate Commerce Committee passed RAMI, which is currently awaiting a full Senate vote.

RAMI would bring together industry, universities and community colleges, federal agencies, and all levels of government, to accelerate manufacturing innovation in technologies with commercial applications. These public-private institutes would leverage resources to bridge the gap between basic research and product development.

Using this model, the Administration recently announced two new advanced manufacturing innovation institutes. One, the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute (ALMMII), will establish a unique public-private partnership jointly led by The Ohio State University, the University of Michigan, and the Columbus-based Edison Welding Institute (EWI). The project is projected to create more than 10,000 jobs in the next five years. NNMI’s pilot is Youngstown’s “America Makes,” formerly the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII).