Murphy, Blumenthal Help Launch Effort To Get Washington To Refocus On Manufacturing Jobs

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined 20 of their U.S. Senate colleagues to launch a campaign to get Washington to refocus on manufacturing jobs. The Manufacturing Jobs for America initiative aims to build bipartisan support for legislation that will modernize America’s manufacturing sector, help American manufacturers grow and create jobs, and assist American workers in getting the skills to succeed in the next generation of manufacturing jobs. The senators will work over the next few months to build support from Republicans and Democrats for these bills, and committee and subcommittee chairs have pledged to convene hearings on these issues.

Together, the lawmakers have contributed 40 bills — many with bipartisan support — to the effort around four organizing principles:

• Strengthening America’s 21st century workforce
• Opening markets abroad
• Creating the conditions necessary for growth
• Expanding access to capital

Together, Murphy and Blumenthal contributed legislation to the Manufacturing Jobs for America package that requires the U.S. government to measure domestic employment as a factor in rewarding contracts, provides tax breaks for companies that keep jobs in the United States, and simplifies U.S. manufacturers’ ability to invest in equipment, facilities, and job training.

“The goal of the Manufacturing Jobs for America initiative is simple: get Washington to support good jobs here at home,” said Murphy and Blumenthal. “Instead of sitting idly by while American jobs are shipped overseas, Congress needs to double down on common-sense legislation that will support American manufacturers and this vibrant industry. We will continue our work to strengthen Connecticut’s historic manufacturing sector through this initiative, and fight to ensure that the heart of this industry – the workers themselves – receive the job support they deserve.”

The campaign’s focus on manufacturing reflects the sector’s reputation for providing good jobs that lead to gains throughout the economy. In Connecticut, workers in manufacturing jobs earn $33,727 more than the average worker in other industries, according to the National Association of Manufacturers. Every new manufacturing job created adds another 1.6 jobs to the local service economy, and for every dollar in manufacturing sales, another $1.34 is added to the economy. Investments in manufacturing have a stronger impact than investments in any other economic sector. 

“The Manufacturing Jobs for America initiative that supports pro-growth, pro-jobs policies in energy, tax, regulatory and workforce policy and other areas has the potential to provide a critical path towards bipartisan agreement on issues facing manufacturers and their employees,” National Association of Manufacturers President Jay Timmons said. “The manufacturing sector is still struggling to recover from the 2.3 million jobs lost during the difficult recession of 2008 and 2009. While 500,000 jobs have since been created, we still have a long road to travel. A growth agenda, that includes some of the bills that are part of the Manufacturing Jobs for America effort, is key to creating an environment that encourages job creation.”

“The AFL-CIO applauds the Senate Democrats for pulling together this broad legislative package to support domestic manufacturing,” AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said. “This is an example of the results-oriented approach Congress should be taking to invest in growth and create jobs, rather than engaging in divisive ideological campaigns. We strongly support many of the themes that run through these bills, including action on currency manipulation and evasion of import duties, measures to increase the reshoring of production, more resources for skills and training, improved access to capital, help for start-ups, and domestic content requirements for government purchases. We look forward to working with the Senate to enact much of this legislation. The manufacturing sector in the United States has finally begun to heal, but we must create the conditions for a long-term recovery. A comprehensive approach like this one can move us a long way in that direction.”

In addition to the National Association of Manufacturers and AFL-CIO, Manufacturing Jobs for America has earned the support of the Alliance for American Manufacturing; American Automotive Policy Council; American Small Manufacturers Coalition; Association for Manufacturing Technology; Bloom Energy; BlueGreen Alliance; Dow; DuPont; Ford Motor Company; General Electric; the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation; National Association of Development Organizations; National Skills Coalition; One Voice - National Tool & Machining Association, and Precision Metalforming Association; Progressive Policy Institute; STEM Education Coalition; Third Way; the United Autoworkers; and the United Steelworkers.

For a full list of the legislation included in Manufacturing Jobs for America, visit http://coons.senate.gov/manufacturing.