Congressman Lipinski Introduces the Job-Creating MADE HERE Act to Strengthen American Manufacturing

Statement

Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-03) today introduced the MADE HERE Act to strengthen American manufacturing and protect defense supply chains that are vital to our national security. MADE HERE (Manufacturing American Dynamism in Entrepreneurship and Harnessing Education to Retool Employees) advances new manufacturing technologies and promotes a skilled workforce by bringing together educational institutions, private companies, nonprofits, labor groups, and government-funded resources to solve pressing issues in the area of manufacturing. These institutions will form "regional clusters" to educate relevant parties and produce new technologies that increase American competitiveness and create jobs.

"For American manufacturing to remain competitive and continue to create good, high-paying jobs, it is essential that we bring together the relevant groups to learn from and collaborate with one another," said Congressman Lipinski. "Manufacturing in the 21st century requires new technologies and wider skills sets than the manufacturing jobs of the past. We need a workforce that is well-equipped to handle emerging technologies and craft innovations that will help the United States remain an international leader in advanced manufacturing. This legislation will create new, high-paying jobs by giving American workers and companies the skills and resources they need to compete. The Third District has a rich history of manufacturing, and the MADE HERE Act will protect that manufacturing tradition and the jobs that it brings to our community."

MADE HERE directs the National Institutes of Science and Technology (NIST), the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Department of Defense (DOD) to carry out three-phase manufacturing cluster programs. Each phase will be awarded through a competitive process wherein clusters must demonstrate that their activities meet a current or future market need. The first phase provides an opportunity for clusters to identify areas of concern in manufacturing and create plans for addressing those concerns. In phase two, awardees will receive up to $3 million over three years to implement their activities including building infrastructure and carrying out educational initiatives. Phase three awardees will receive up to $10 million over 5 years to continue their efforts focused on addressing emerging technical areas of need.

"Exciting digital innovations in manufacturing are creating new opportunities for American workers that require new skills and an ever-increasing awareness of cybersecurity and advancing technology," said Jenna Pilat, Vice President of Strategy and Engagement at MxD. "The initiative outlined in MADE HERE will enhance efforts like those undertaken by MxD The Digital Manufacturing Institute to equip manufacturers and the workforce with the technologies and skills they need to succeed. We are very excited at the chance to work within this ecosystem of manufacturing innovation."

MADE HERE is in line with recommendations in the Strategy for American Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing, which was ordered by legislation authored by Congressman Lipinski and signed into law as part of a broader legislative package in 2014.

"I am proud to have been able to pass the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act in 2014, which required publication of the first American manufacturing strategy since the days of Alexander Hamilton," said Congressman Lipinski. "It is now time to put those recommendations into practice. MADE HERE is the first step towards implementing the recommendations in this report to grow our manufacturing sector and create better jobs for the years to come."

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