WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill is backing a bipartisan bill continuing her fight to protect and expand manufacturing across Missouri.
The Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act would establish a manufacturing hub network to improve American manufacturing competitiveness and domestic production.
“Manufacturing is a crucial segment of Missouri’s economy and a source of good jobs that we have to protect and grow,” said McCaskill, who returned to Washington this week after a tour across Missouri aimed at boosting jobs and business opportunities in the state. “This bill takes a creative, effective approach to boosting and revitalizing manufacturing and innovation and it will directly benefit Missouri families. I’m grateful so many institutions, companies, and universities have partnered in this effort and I’m looking forward to working with them and with my colleagues to keep Missouri’s economic recovery moving in the right direction.”
The legislation, which is sponsored by Senators Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), would officially establish a Network for Manufacturing Initiative-creating a manufacturing network led by the Department of Commerce.
The manufacturing sector directly employs 289,000 Missourians at an average salary of nearly $70,000. This bill has been endorsed by the National Association of Manufacturers, the US Conference of Mayors, the Association of Public & Land Grant Universities, the United Auto Workers, and the American Auto Policy Council.
Last year, President Obama announced a similar plan to revitalize American manufacturing by creating 15 manufacturing innovation hubs across the country. These hubs will operate through partnerships between the public and private sector including research institutions, universities, suppliers, manufacturers, and corporations-with partners pledging financial resources to match or exceed federal funding. The first hub was established in 2012 in Youngstown, Ohio. In February 2014, two new manufacturing hubs were announced for Detroit and Chicago, supported by $200 million from five federal agencies and matching funds from businesses and universities. The Chicago manufacturing hub involves more than 73 universities, companies, and research labs across the Midwest, and includes Missouri partners Missouri S&T, the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, and Boeing.