[From the Congresswoman's website] July 8, 2010 Erie, Pa.—Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-3), a member of the Committee on Science and Technology, was at Industrial Sales and Manufacturing, Inc. in Erie today to discuss legislation that supports the local manufacturing and education communities, the America COMPETES Act of 2010. To enhance America’s competitiveness and technological innovation, America COMPETES makes strategic investments that support manufacturing and create jobs by funding science, research and development, and education.
The America COMPETES Act provides strategic investments to create new technologies and support manufacturing—two areas proven to create quality jobs and lasting businesses. Each year, the U.S. manufacturing sector generates more than $1.5 trillion worth of goods. Manufacturing accounts for more than half of total U.S. exports and employs millions of people. However, between 2000 and 2007, the U.S. global market share of manufactured exports fell from 19 percent to 14 percent. During that same period, the Chinese share of global exports rose from 7 percent to 17 percent.
The COMPETES reauthorization supports small- and medium-sized manufacturers by providing Innovative Technology federal loan guarantees to help them access capital to become more efficient and stay competitive. COMPETES supports the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, which provides resources to keep small American manufacturers on the cutting edge by enhancing growth, improving productivity, and expanding capacity.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) MEP program is a network of 59 centers across the country, including the Northwest Industrial Resource Center in Erie. MEPs help our local small- and medium-sized manufacturers solve problems, increase productivity, improve their economic competitiveness, and enhance their technological capabilities.
Rep. Dahlkemper has an amendment to the COMPETES Act to help close the gap between the skills and talent of workers and the advanced manufacturing needs of employers by providing training in advanced manufacturing. Through Rep. Dahlkemper’s amendment, the National Science Foundation (NSF) will award grants to expand scientific and technical education and training in advanced manufacturing through the Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education programs.
Read the full press release here.
