Senator Roy Blunt

We Can’t Get Serious About Manufacturing Soon Enough.

I support RAMI.

I read with interest a post on the congressional blog The Hill. In a rare example of cross party cooperation it would appear that the Senate is taking action on supporting growth in our manufacturing sector. Do read the piece but in essence the idea is to set up a national network for manufacturing innovation. This would build on the pilot center/hubs for innovation already set up by the Obama administration.

Kudos to Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Roy Blunt (R-Missouri). I like your style gentlemen — first for working in a true bipartisan manner, and secondly for doing it on something so important. The bill is called Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act (RAMI). Congressman Tom Reed (R-New York) and Joe Kennedy III (D-Massachusetts) are working in the House of Representatives to get this done.

The bill is not a done deal so please let your representatives know you support RAMI. Copy and paste this blog in an email to your congressman and senators. I’ve given you a signature line below. Here’s a link to finding your reps addresses.

We can’t get serious about manufacturing soon enough because the USA needs manufacturing jobs.

But it’s not only jobs and economic growth. There is also the trade deficit — something we keep ignoring. I’d argue that simply having the capability to make very sophisticated things is a marker of a strong society as well as a strong economy. Innovation is not just about growth — it’s a sign, a signal, of collective creative health. Are we a society moving forward and trying new things? Or are we content to let other countries take the lead?

Congressman Joe Kennedy III

I support technological leadership in the USA. I support a strong manufacturing sector.

We have to make things here in the USA. We cannot build our future entirely on software and the service economy. If we want to build a more stable economy a healthy manufacturing sector is essential. Reshoring makes sense — and staying here with new tech makes even more sense.

About RAMI: Essentially the proposed law helps take findings in basic research and help bridge the gap to commercial products. If only we’d done this for flat screen displays and lithium ion batteries! Both of those technologies were invented here and commericalized elsewhere. Entrepreneurs don’t generally have the money to “make the translation” of say, a groovy new material into a commercially viable product. This is where government can actually enhance the free market by getting a new technology to the point where it can be commercialized — then letting the market take care of the rest.

It’s not a new idea, the Germans do this “translation” stuff like mad and they’ve proven it works.

Let’s make RAMI law before the summer.

I ______________ support the passage of RAMI. Let’s create a win for America.