If we truly
want sustained job creation and economic growth, we need to renew our focus on
making things in America. I believe the manufacturing sector has the potential
to be the leading edge of our economic recovery, and a few weeks ago I set out
on a listening tour of my district to hear from manufacturers, and to
understand how innovative ideas become the technology and products we use every
day. I also heard about the challenges manufacturers face in today’s changing
marketplace.
These visits reinforced my belief that there is great potential in the
manufacturing industry. In Congress, we must enact laws that foster growth in
the American manufacturing industry and help it thrive, create jobs, and
rebuild our economy.
We must not only encourage manufacturing workforce training, we must leverage
the resources that exist in our public institutions and connect them to businesses.
Curricula should be tailored to industry demand, and future opportunities.
Strategic partnerships between community colleges, technical schools, and the
business community should be nurtured so that a company facing a need for a
certain type of skilled labor can rest assured that there will be trained
workers in the pipeline.
The manufacturing sector can generate well-paying jobs with good benefits that
attract bright, skilled workers. The answer to rebuilding our manufacturing
sector is not a race to the bottom like we see in many of our overseas
competitors. The answer lies in a strategic partnership between government and
the private sector that supports innovation and entrepreneurship. This approach
has allowed high-wage, developed nations like Germany
to reinvigorate their manufacturing sector.
It is high time we commited ourselves to "making it in America." That
means embracing a national manufacturing strategy, a green economy, and real
solutions for business innovators. I appreciate the opportunity to share these
views and look forward to your continued input as we work to rebuild our country.
Read my Blog
Post about the Manufacturing Listening Tour.
John P. Sarbanes
CONTACT INFORMATION
Annapolis Office:
Arundel Center
44 Calvert St. Suite 349
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: (410) 295-1679
Fax: (410) 295-1682