We are proud to be a constant advocate for U.S. manufacturing in the halls of Congress, and the bills introduced will help give our local manufacturers fair access to resources they need to boost jobs. — Rep. Reed
Tom Reed often advocates for manufacturing, posing as knowledgeable even though he has no known education or experience with manufacturing. What he does know about it, he may have learned from lobbyists.
The Ripon Advance reports:
Rep. Reed on May 22 introduced H.R. 2900 with U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) to create the role of U.S. Chief Manufacturing Officer, who would be responsible for coordinating and reviewing federal manufacturing-related policies across all agencies and developing a National Manufacturing Strategy.
On May 9, Rep. Reed cosponsored H.R. 2631 with U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) to designate and support manufacturing communities, which would vie for grants from the proposed Manufacturing Community Support Program.
And in April, Rep. Reed cosponsored H.R. 2397 with U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) to reauthorize the Manufacturing USA program, which creates public-private partnerships that work to secure U.S. manufacturing via innovation, education and collaboration.
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H.R. 2397 — To amend the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to make changes to the implementation of the network for manufacturing innovation, and for other purposes.
Manufacturing USA was an Obama Administration initiative. If public/private partnerships are desirable, reauthorization would be justified.
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr2397
H.R. 2631 –To improve the competitiveness of United States manufacturing by designating and supporting manufacturing communities.
It isn’t clear to me what H.R. 2631 would add to existing programs. Does it require the Dept. of Commerce to designate more “manufacturing communities?” GovTrack gives this bill a 2% chance of becoming law.
Tom Reed claims H.R. 2631, Make It In America Manufacturing Communities Act,
- Designates “manufacturing communities” for preference in grant awards. The Finger Lakes Region was awarded this designation during a Department of Commerce pilot program and awarded $2.6 million in grants.
- One success story this bill would continue is a 2016 grant to High Tech Rochester, Inc. We estimate this grant will create 100 new startup businesses and 1,000 new jobs by 2021
- The Finger Lakes received 5 awards totaling $8.8 million and anticipated another $30 million but the program stopped getting agency support.
What “agency” stopped support and why, Tom doesn’t say.
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr2631
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2631
H. R. 2900 — To establish the United States Chief Manufacturing Officer in the Executive Office of the President with the responsibility of developing a National Manufacturing Strategy to revitalize the manufacturing sector, spur economic growth, and expand United States competitiveness, and for other purposes.
A Chief Manufacturing Officer might have a role in government.
- Is it good to create a shadow government in the White House, or is this the responsibility of the Dept. of Commerce?
- A Chief Manufacturing Officer would be of no use to President Trump, who infamously doesn’t value the advice of experts.
- Is an act of Congress needed, or could a future president who wanted advice add such an officer to the staff?
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr2900
It will be interesting to see if any of these bills passes the House.
U.S. manufacturing growth requires congressional action, says Reed
New NY 23rd 