Law & Order

Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Create a National Manufacturing Growth Strategy

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate (HR 2447/S 1709) to direct the White House National Science and Technology Council to develop and periodically update a national competitiveness strategic plan. The bills are designed to improve federal support for the American manufacturing sector and create a long-term strategic plan for guidance from federal agencies. These plans include opportunities for growth in the advanced manufacturing and research and development fields.

A similar SEMA-supported measure overwhelmingly passed the House last year, but did not receive a vote in the Senate. The bills are part of a recent focus on manufacturing on Capitol Hill, including a series of hearings held by the House Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade (CMT) Subcommittee. The “Nation of Builders” series has focused on individual market segments within the manufacturing sector and opportunities for new science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) grants to build a competitive and skilled workforce. Legislation is expected to be drafted next year as a result of these hearings.

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.