Chairwoman Johnson Opening Statement for Advanced Manufacturing Hearing
(Washington, DC) – Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittees on Research & Technology and Energy are holding a hearing titled, “Revitalizing American Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing.”
Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson’s (D-TX) opening statement for the record is below.
Good morning and welcome to our witnesses. Thank you, Chairwoman Stevens and Chairman Lamb, for holding this timely hearing to draw attention to the role the Manufacturing USA Institutes play in promoting a strong domestic manufacturing base.
Manufacturing is foundational to the national security and economy of the United States, which is why I was one of one hundred bipartisan co-sponsors of the original Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act that established the Manufacturing USA program, signed into law by President Obama in 2014. Since the program’s creation and ensuing growth, the fourteen Manufacturing USA Institutes have led transformational innovations with a variety of applications.
Not only do these Institutes play an important role in developing next-generation technologies, they also foster networks built upon public-private partnerships that maximize the impact of government investment. The Institutes engage with manufacturers of all sizes to build a robust national manufacturing network and to train a workforce of tomorrow that meets the demands of emerging manufacturing sectors.
Manufacturing USA Institutes are also an important tool in our fight against climate change. The Department of Energy funds five Institutes that focus broadly on developing technologies that reduce energy consumption in manufacturing processes. This focus is vital considering that the manufacturing sector is the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the U.S. economy, behind transportation and power generation.
For this reason, we must ensure that Congress gives the Manufacturing USA program the resources and tools it needs to continue to innovate. That is why I am excited to discuss today how we can best harness the Manufacturing USA Institutes to improve U.S. competitiveness, decarbonize our economy, and train the next-generation’s workforce.
With that, I yield back
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