IFPTE Endorses Bipartisan Legislation to Establish Industrial Strategy Leadership in White House

With Congress turning its focus to infrastructure investment, manufacturing, supply chains, and jobs,  IFPTE welcomed the introduction of the Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Act , a bipartisan bill sponsored by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH).

The bill would create an office within the Executive Office of the President and establish a new position, the Chief Manufacturing Officer, to advise the President and to oversee and develop critical manufacturing priorities and a "National Strategic Plan" for manufacturing and innovation. The bill also establishes an intergovernmental effort, to be led by the President, to coordinate a national industrial and economic effort on U.S. manufacturing and innovation.

In Sen. Klobuchar and Rep Kaptur's press statement on the introduction of the bill, IFPTE President Paul Shearon commented:

The bipartisan Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Act is a critical step toward establishing an effective national industrial strategy that would benefit working people and union members in every state and congressional district. IFPTE applauds Senators Klobuchar, Wicker, Coons, and Portman and Representative Kaptur and Fitzpatrick for proposing legislation that aligns federally-funded research, development, and technological innovation with the goal of rebuilding the nation’s industrial base and supports high-quality high-wage domestic manufacturing jobs.”

The legislation's original cosponsors include Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Rob Portman (R-OH), and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). Along with IFPTE, unions supporting the Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Act  include the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the United Auto Workers, the United Steelworkers as well as the AFL-CIO. Industry groups such as the Aerospace Industries Association, the National Association of Manufacturers, and several others are also endorsing this bill.

For more information, read Rep Kaptur's press statement on her website.