AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY
Thursday, September 18, 2014
CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
202-482-4883
Thursday, September 18, 2014
CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
202-482-4883
Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker addressed the need for passage of pending bipartisan legislation that would establish a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) at the NNMI Day on Capitol Hill. She was joined by Sen. Sherrod Brown, Reps. Joe Kennedy and Tom Reed, several business leaders and the directors of the newly established pilot Institutes of Manufacturing Innovation (IMIs).
The
Revitalize American Manufacturing Innovation Act (RAMI) would create a
network of up
to 15 regional institutes across the country, each focused on a unique
technology, material or process relevant to advanced manufacturing.
Senator Brown (D-OH), Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO), Rep. Kennedy (D-MA) and
Rep. Reed (R-NY) introduced bipartisan RAMI legislation
in their respective legislative chamber. The Senate bill passed out of
the Senate Commerce Committee, and the House bill passed the full House
of Representatives on September 15.
Remarks As Prepared for Delivery
Thank
you, Senator Brown, for your welcoming remarks and for your passionate,
persistent
leadership on behalf of working families and manufacturers in Ohio and
across the country. I also want to applaud you for recognizing the
importance of investing in cutting edge technologies needed to create
more economic opportunity for all Americans.
I
also want to acknowledge Senator Roy Blunt, who could not join us this
morning; Chairman
Jay Rockefeller, who helped make today’s event possible; and,
Representatives Joe Kennedy and Tom Reed, who have led this effort in
the House of Representatives. I am excited that Members from both
chambers, and from both parties, understand the fundamental
importance of pre-competitive research to our nation’s long-term
economic growth and prosperity.
Since
the nation’s founding, innovation has been the lifeblood of the
American economy. And
it is just as true today. In fact, between one-third and one-half of
economic growth in the United States can be attributed technological and
scientific innovation.
The
Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act recognizes this
fact and is a critical
step forward to securing America’s economic leadership. It is also
fundamental to supporting the growth of manufacturing in the United
States.
NNMI
is about keeping America on the cutting edge of discovery – and keeping
our manufacturers,
our businesses, and our economy globally competitive. Leadership in
manufacturing is not simply a “nice to have” – it is a “must have.”
The fact is that our international competitors are making substantial investments to spur
innovation in advanced manufacturing.
For
instance, Germany has more than 60 Fraunhofer institutes with the
purpose of ensuring
their global competitiveness in manufacturing. We have four. The reality
is that if we underinvest in our future, we will be left behind.
NNMI
is designed to help America not just keep up, but to lead. To position
American companies
ahead of the global competition; to boost local, regional, and state
economies; to accelerate the development of cutting-edge technologies in
our own communities; and to create new growth industries, made in
America.
That is why President Obama has made NNMI a national priority. And that is why the Departments
of Commerce, Defense, and Energy came forward with investments of our own to get the first pilot programs off the ground.
What
we have seen since the launch of the first NNMI institute in 2012 is
that the federal
government can serve as a necessary catalyst for success. These centers
of excellence would not have occurred without that support. Our overall
NNMI effort – and the RAMI Act – recognize the unique role the federal
government plays in spearheading the effort
to create these institutes.
The
legislation also encourages partnership, regional collaboration and the
breaking down
of silos within our communities, community colleges and universities,
the private sector, NGOs and needed supply chains in order to bring
ideas from the lab to market. The legislation also recognizes that the
current pilot institutes – and future pilot institutes
– can create a powerful national network that can drive invention, best
practices, and long-term economic growth.
From
the start, communities were clamoring for NNMI resources. Make no
mistake, these investments
are not handouts. Each commitment of federal dollars requires that local
partners match. And with federal funds brought to the table, we are
seeing results.
After
fierce competition, the first pilot institute in Youngstown, Ohio,
focused on 3D printing
and opened with an initial federal investment of $50 million. It is
called America Makes and this regional partnership – through the private
sector, NGOs and academic institutions – more than matched that amount.
The initial consortium has now grown to more
than 100 members who work together to help expand our nation’s
capabilities in commercial 3D printing.
With
the success in Youngstown, applications for our next institute came
pouring in from
across America. This past January, a group of 25 partners led by North
Carolina State University was designated as the second pilot with a
matching federal investment of $70 million. This institute will be
focused on designing and producing the next generation
of energy-efficient power electronics.
Few
of our institutes met with more interest and competition than the
consortium from Chicago,
focused on digital manufacturing and design. Again, the federal
government dedicated $70 million in funding. This time, the winning team
more than tripled the federal commitment, putting up $240 million of
their own. What is also terrific about this effort
is that it is not just about the city of Chicago alone, but includes the
participation of universities and companies from throughout the greater
Midwest region.
Finally,
in February, the fourth pilot institute was announced in the Detroit
area, with
another $70 million matched by non-federal partners. The Detroit-based
team is focused on lightweight metals, for use in everything from wind
turbines to medical devices to combat vehicles.
I believe that the genius of this entire effort – and this legislation – is to encourage
more dynamic collaboration.
Right
now, there are four more pilot institutes in the pipeline – focused on
the energy and
defense sectors. And with the RAMI Act, we hope to be able to meet the
real and growing demand for the development of more advanced
manufacturing technologies.
Since
the opening of the NNMI pilot institutes, the evidence is clear of the
tangible results
coming from their research and development. That is why the RAMI Act is
so critical. This measure will ensure that NNMI remains a catalyst for
manufacturing and regional economic growth; serve as a source of support
for industries of innovation; and function
as a necessary vehicle to keep our workers, our companies, and our
economy more competitive in the global landscape.
Today’s
event is a perfect opportunity to learn more about the work of our
pilot institutes;
to hear from companies taking the lead in advanced manufacturing; and to
discover more about how NNMI can produce tangible benefits for our
communities.
These
institutes present a clear reminder that making this bill the law of
the land would
spur more innovation, continue the comeback of American manufacturers,
and send an unmistakable message to our competitors around the world –
that America is “open for business.”
Thank you. And now, it is my honor to welcome one of the key leaders of this important legislative
effort, Congressman Tom Reed.