Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Steve Daines (R-MT) joined Representatives Tim Ryan (D-OH), Tom Reed (R-NY) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL) to introduce legislation to establish the position of U.S. Chief Manufacturing Officer in the Executive Office of the President. Ryan and Reed are Co-Chairs of the bipartisan House Manufacturing Caucus.
The U.S. Chief Manufacturing Officer (CMO) will be responsible for coordinating manufacturing-related policies and activities across agencies. The CMO will also develop a national manufacturing strategy to revitalize the manufacturing sector, spur economic growth, and expand United States competitiveness.
“Manufacturing is critical to innovation and entrepreneurship in the United States.” said Coons. “Across many federal agencies, the U.S. Government makes decisions every day that impact this important sector. It’s critical that we make sure federal efforts are effective, coordinated and informed by an overall strategy. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the Chief Manufacturing Officer Act — bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will ensure federal policy helps manufacturers grow and create jobs.”
“Manufacturing has long been a source of good–paying, stable jobs for many in Maine and across our nation,” said Collins. “The establishment of a United States Chief Manufacturing Officer would help develop a national strategy and coordinate federal policies to grow and enhance the competiveness of our manufacturing sector. By focusing our efforts to revitalize this important industry, we can protect high-quality manufacturing jobs and create new economic opportunities in the years to come.”
On average, each manufacturing job creates additional three to four jobs due to the required research, development and process design, and needed supply chain and post sales services. However, manufacturing employment, output and exports are all affected by such issues as tax policies, state of infrastructure and transportation, small business regulations, environmental regulations, trade policies, innovation ecosystems, workforce development, and education initiatives, a release from Coons’ office stated.
“A Chief Manufacturing Officer in the Executive Office of the President that sets a strategy based on rapid innovation is the best support our government can give American manufacturers as they respond to the opportunity and challenges of an increasingly connected, automated world,” said Douglas K. Woods, president, the Association For Manufacturing Technology.
This legislation has been supported by: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Association For Manufacturing Technology (AMT), Automation Federation (AF), International Society of Automation (ISA), Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF), Intelligent Systems International (IMS-I), Manufacturing Alliance of Communities (MAC), National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), and National Council for Advanced Manufacturing(NACFAM).
