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May 04, 2005

Democrats Committed to Protecting American Jobs

(Washington, DC) The Committee on Science today cleared three bills for final House consideration.  In addition to H.R. 1674 and H.R. 921, H.R. 250 – the Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act - was under consideration.  Committee Democrats attempted to amend this bill that falls far short of its goal to reinvigorate U.S. manufacturing.

"H.R. 250 could be the vehicle to lend support to our small manufacturers, endorse an economy of innovation, offer better training to our workers and stem the loss of high-paying jobs to foreign lands.  Instead, it’s little more than window dressing," stated Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN).

The legislation passed the full House by voice vote last year as H.R. 3598.  The bill considered in Committee today as H.R. 250 is identical.

"This bill looks good on the surface, but you don’t have to dig very deep to see its flaws," added Rep. Gordon.  "Since 2001, we have lost 2.7 million manufacturing jobs in this country.  During the first three months of 2005 - a time we’re told is an economic recovery - we’ve lost another 24,000 jobs.  Nothing in this bill stems the tide."

A year ago, the Administration announced a "Manufacturing Initiative," the creation of an Assistant Secretary of Manufacturing and Services, and established a "Manufacturing Council."  During debate on this legislation in the 108th Congress, a bipartisan agreement was reached on the need to develop federal policies and programs to retain high-paying, high-skill manufacturing jobs in the U.S.  To date however, little progress has been made.

"I am disappointed that this Committee’s solution to the jobs crisis is to recycle a weak bill that’s a year old.  There are things we must be doing if we’re serious about maintaining the manufacturing industry’s viability in this county," remarked Rep. Gordon.  "We like products that are ‘Made in America,’ yet we are doing too little to ensure that the workers and manufacturing facilities remain on American soil."

Democrats offered amendments to expand the reach of the bill to ensure full funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), improve workforce training, stimulate technological innovation and strengthen America’s manufacturing efforts.  Like last year, Republicans on the Committee opposed most amendments.

Democratic amendments focused on ensuring full funding of MEP, innovation, workforce education, developing a National Manufacturing Strategy.  They included:

  • MEP Authorization - Rep. Gordon - An amendment to insure a minimum of $109 million for MEP Center operations in FY06.
  • Advanced Technology Program Authorization - Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) - An amendment to provide sufficient ATP funding for $60 million in new Advanced Technology Program (ATP) awards (FY06-08) aimed at strengthening the U.S. industrial base through new broad-based technologies.
  • Technical Workforce and Development - Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) - An amendment to increase funding for NSF’s Advanced Technological Education Program which provides funding to community colleges to develop programs in conjunction with local industry to provide students with employable skills.
  • Manufacturing Council - Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO) - An amendment to strengthen the Administration’s manufacturing efforts.
  • Workforce/Outsourcing Assessment - Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL) - An amendment to require a study on the manufacturing and professional workforce to assess trends relating to outsourcing for investment and re-employment.

"Democrats did their best to craft a bill that benefits American workers and we scored a small victory for the MEP programs.  But at the end of the day, the Administration opposes this bill and the House leadership is unlikely to bring it up for a vote," concluded Rep. Gordon.  "As the U.S. continues to hemorrhage manufacturing jobs, the lack of attention this issue is receiving from the Administration and Congress is shocking."

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