Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Ted Budd (R-N.C.), members of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today introduced the Streamlining American Manufacturing Strategy Act.
The bipartisan legislation would amend the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to align the timelines for multiple advanced manufacturing initiatives to every four years on the same cycle. As of now, the Manufacturing USA Strategic Plan establishes a 3-year planning cycle for updating the 17 Manufacturing USA Institutes, as mandated by the National Institutes of Standards and Technology Act. But the National Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing is updated every four years on a different cycle. This alignment ensures a clear set of goals, synchronized data collection, and reduced bureaucracy for U.S. advanced manufacturing stakeholders.
“I have spent my career in Congress working to strengthen American manufacturing to create jobs and lower costs for hardworking people in Delaware and across the nation,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “The introduction of our bipartisan Streamlining American Manufacturing Strategy Act is another critical step in that effort. This bill will ensure everyone can be on the same page and cut unnecessary red tape across the American manufacturing sector. I am grateful to Senator Budd for his partnership on this effort on behalf of our constituents and look forward to working with our colleagues on the Commerce Committee and throughout the Senate to get this bill passed into law.”
“Unleashing the next generation of technological innovation will make Americans’ everyday lives easier, create new jobs, and help American companies stay competitive in the global market,” said Senator Budd. “North Carolina has one of the most talented workforces in the nation, which has made the Old North State a leader in advanced manufacturing. I am proud to partner with my colleague, Senator Blunt Rochester, on this common-sense bill to ensure that our nation has a clear vision to keep American manufacturers ahead in the technological race and driving our economy forward.”
Between 2012 and 2024, the overall U.S. GDP rose by 34 percent, but manufacturing output grew by only 21 percent. Just last year, the manufacturing sector’s shareof the economy decreased from 11.3 percent to 10.2 percent, paving the way for China to become number one global manufacturer. The United States has established a number of efforts to reverse these trends, but not all of their timelines line up, creating unnecessary obstacles to progress.
This bipartisan bill comes as part of Blunt Rochester’s longstanding efforts to lower costs, create jobs, shore up our nation’s supply chains, spur American manufacturing, and prepare our nation for the future of work. In June, Blunt Rochester’s bipartisan Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act passed the Senate by voice vote.
“To lead the future of advanced manufacturing, we must move with a unified national purpose,” said Dr. Kelvin H. Lee, Director of National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL). “This legislation harmonizes the strategic direction of the Manufacturing USA Institutes with our overarching national priorities. This streamlined approach will not only enhance efficiency but will also catalyze the public-private partnerships necessary to tackle grand challenges, secure our supply chains, and solidify America’s position as a global leader in the industries of tomorrow.”
‘The U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Council welcomes the introduction of the Streamlining American Manufacturing Strategy Act,” said Franz Wuerfmannsdobler, Executive Director of the U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Council. “This legislation is a beneficial, commonsense, and bipartisan step that will improve the alignment of important national strategy initiatives for domestic advanced manufacturing. The USMIC appreciates this effort to improve the national planning process.”
This legislation has been endorsed by the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) and the U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Council.
A one pager on the bill can be found here.
The full text can be found here.
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Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.