Congresswoman Matsui Speaks at Inaugural Sacramento Manufacturing Summit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, November 10, 2011
CONTACT: ALANA JUTEAU
(202) 225-7163
Congresswoman Matsui Speaks at Inaugural Sacramento Manufacturing Summit
CA Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) participated in the first-ever Sacramento Manufacturing Summit. The summit brought together local industry leaders to discuss job creation in the manufacturing sector.
Americans inherently know that manufacturing is critical to our nation, said Matsui. America was once a manufacturing powerhouse, and it is no coincidence that in the decade leading up to the recession we lost one-third of our nation's manufacturing jobs. We rely on manufacturing to drive our economy. It not only creates well-paying middle-class jobs and fosters innovation, but we have always been proud of the words: Made in America.
Supporting our nation's manufacturing sector is critical to our economic recovery and to a strong middle class. For every one job that is created in the manufacturing sector, additional jobs are created in related industries. And with an average wage of $69,000, manufacturing jobs in California pay among the highest average wages of any sector.
For every manufacturing job, there is a multiplier effect that supports other jobs throughout the economy. In the current fiscal climate, there is no better deficit reduction plan than creating jobs in this country. That is why in Congress, I am excited to be working on the Make It In America agenda a plan to keep America competitive by rebuilding our manufacturing sector. The goal is to create an environment that helps businesses innovate, compete and create jobs right here in our community. The Sacramento Manufacturing Summit enabled local government and business leaders to develop ideas on how to best do just that.
Congresswoman Matsui's H.R. 502, the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act, is a key piece of the House Democratic Caucus Make It In America initiative. H.R. 502 would create a national clean energy export strategy and establish an export assistance fund to be administered by the International Trade Administration within the Department of Commerce to help increase the competitiveness of American-made clean technology industry in the U.S. and in the international marketplace. Recently, Leader Pelosi included Matsui's bill in a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction as a recommended policy for economic growth and job creation.
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