Thursday, May 26, 2011

"Make It In America" Jobs Plan

If a jobs plan falls in the forest, does anyone notice?   This Make it in America Jobs Plan needs a lot more attention!!

Cross-posted from Denver Unemployment Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/unemployment-in-denver/democrats-introduce-make-it-america-jobs-plan


While House Republicans have continued to focus on abortion-related legislation and the introduction of a 'JOBS Act' designed to make it easier for states to reduce U.I. benefits, Democrats in both chambers have re-launched the "Make It in America' domestic job-creation campaign.

'Make It in America', a phrase termed by House Minority Whip, Steny Hoyer (D-MD), is a comprehensive agenda that consists of multiple bills (several of w hich have already beens signed into law or bassed by the lower chamber) focusing on Trade, Taxes, Energy, Labor, Education, Intellectual Property (research & development) and Infrastructure.

Yesterday Colorado Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D-7) released the following statement in support of 'Make It in America'.

"If We Make It in America, We Will Make it in America."

Washington, D.C.—Today, Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) joined in support of the “Make It In America” agenda for the 112th Congress, a plan to support job creation today and in the future by encouraging businesses to make products and innovate in the US and sell them to the world through strengthening our infrastructure and supporting investments in key areas like energy and education innovation. This effort builds on House Democrats' actions to create jobs and continue growing the economy and focuses on investing in key priorities while cutting wasteful spending.

"If we make it in America, we will Make it in America," said Perlmutter. “Manufacturing continues to drive our economic recovery, and the best way to spur growth and reduce the debt is to get people back to work in good jobs making things in this country. I want to make sure we out-educate, out-innovate and out-build our competitors so we can strengthen American competitiveness, create jobs and ensure American workers can make it in America.”

Manufacturing supports an estimated 18.6 million jobs in the U.S. -- about one in six private sector jobs. This includes nearly 130,000 jobs in Colorado. The Make It In America agenda unveiled today encompasses a range of issues to help create an environment where manufacturers and small businesses can expand and create jobs here. The agenda:

  • Closes tax loopholes that encourage outsourcing U.S. jobs overseas;
  • Provides hometown tax credits to help small businesses hire new employees and sell their products and innovation overseas;
  • Boosts incentives to create American clean energy jobs like making state-of-the-art wind turbines and solar panels–paid for by ending corporate welfare to Big Oil;
  • Strengthens rules that U.S. and its contractors buy American, especially to build transportation, energy, and communications infrastructure;
  • Demands that China and other countries honor fair trade principles or lose American business;
  • Gives incentives to hire and retrain America’s returning veterans for new clean energy jobs;
  • Strengthens partnerships with businesses to retrain America’s workers for the jobs that are actually needed.

The plan is in stark contrast to the GOP jobs plan as Ray Medeiros of PoliticsUSA wrote in his article titled, 'GOP Ignores Jobs While Democrats Unveil Make It In America Agenda' yesterday:,
 
"After many many months of waiting, the Senate GOP has finally come forward with a “plan” to get our economy back on track. Initially, the first issue they take up is government spending, unusual right? I bet the next thing will be tax cuts and deregulation, yep, right again. If you look at the link I provided above it is a very predictable storyline, almost like Grimm’s fairy tales. Unfortunately for America we have been doing this very thing for the last 30 years, how has it helped?"
 
The 'Make It in America' agenda is endorsed by the Campaign for America's Future, a progressive coalition with representatives from the Economic Policy Institute, the NAACP, AFL-CIO, MoveOn.org and many other groups. house Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi waas among money who attended the 2010 America’s Future Now! conference in Washington, DC.

**The Democrats first introduced their 'Make It in America' agenda on March 15, when Representatives Paul Tonko (NY), Jan Schakowsky (IL), and Steny Hoyer (MD) outlined the plan on the House floor.
As the long-term unemployed continue to struggle with homelessness and unsuccessful job searches, the need for interim financial assistance is paramount. In the fight for passage of HR589 which would add 14 weeks of EUC benefits to Tier , please use this news, along with HR870 and other jobs bills that have been introduced a means to push the House Republicans into action on JOBS and passage of HR589. The Republicans are under pressure and have backed down from their push to 'reform' (eliminate) Medicare. Please use this opportunity to put more pressure on the Republican Leadership to act on jobs legislation along with HR589.

For a list of bills that have already been signed into law as well as those that have been passed in the House, please go here.

'Make It in America ' legislation for the 112th Congress includes:

National Manufacturing Strategy Act (Rep. Lipinski, H.R. 1366):Directs the president to work with industry, labor leaders, and other stakeholders to develop a national strategy to increase manufacturing.

Build a 21st Century Surface Transportation System: Enact a Surface Transportation Authorization bill to create a modern and efficient transportation system that facilitates trade and industry.

Build American Jobs Act (Rep. Levin, H.R. 922)/Build America Bonds to Create Jobs Now Act (Rep. Connolly, H.R. 11): Extends the Build America Bonds program, provides additional funding for the Recovery Zone bonds program, and makes improvements to existing bond and credit programs to help states and local governments leverage private capital to create jobs today and build the infrastructure that is the backbone of future economic growth.

National Infrastructure Development Bank Act (Rep. DeLauro, H.R. 402): Establishes a wholly-owned government corporation to facilitate efficient investments in and financing of infrastructure projects—from leading-edge broadband networks and energy delivery systems to modern ports—that foster economic development and keep America competitive.

The Airports, Highways, High-Speed Rail, Trains and Transit: Make it in America Act (Rep. Garamendi, H.R. 613): Increases domestic content provisions for airports and rolling stock and eliminates non-availability waivers.

One Global Internet Act (Rep. Lofgren):Establishes a government task force that would review, prioritize, and act on attempts by foreign governments to degrade or disrupt the flow of goods, services, and/or content on the Internet.

Permanent R&D Tax Credit (Rep. Carney): Make permanent and expand the Research and Development Tax Credit so research investments can draw capital that create tomorrow’s jobs.

Patent Reform: Improve the patent system to provide incentives for companies to continue innovating and manufacturing in the U.S.

Rare Earths Materials: Three bills have been introduced on this important issue. Rare Earths and Critical Materials Revitalization Act (Rep. Boswell, H.R. 618), Energy Critical Elements Renewal Act (Rep. Brad Miller, H.R. 952), and the Resource Assessment of Rare Earths (RARE) Act (Reps. Hank Johnson and Markey, H.R. 1314). These bills support the assessment and development of U.S. capacity in rare earth minerals critical to the manufacture of energy and other technologies.

Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act (Reps. Levin and Tim Ryan, H.R. 639):Levels the trade playing field by holding accountable countries that create an unfair trade advantage by manipulating their currency.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs: Ensure that the nation’s small, high-tech, and innovative businesses are a significant part of the federal government’s research and development efforts.

The Innovative Technologies Investment Incentives Act (Rep. Van Hollen, H.R. 1732): Accelerates innovation by providing a 25% tax credit for qualified equity investments in eligible high technology and biotechnology small businesses.

Small Business Start-up Savings Accounts (Rep. Sewell): Establishes tax-preferred savings accounts for small business start-up savings accounts.

Make It in America Block Grant Act (Rep. Cicilline): Establishes a grant program at the Commerce Department to provide small to medium-sized businesses in communities hardest hit by unemployment with the resources and strategies they need to retool and retrofit their operations and train their workforce in order to transition to the manufacturing of clean energy, high-technology, and advanced products.

Corporate Tax Reform: Our corporate tax system is far too confusing and inefficient. It causes economic distortions by forcing managers to make decisions based on tax consequences rather than on solid business principles. Many of these decisions, unfortunately, send investment and jobs overseas. Reform could lower the corporate tax rate and bring investment back to make American business and the American worker more competitive globally.

Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act (Rep. Matsui, H.R. 502): Establishes a Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Fund, to be administered through the International Trade Administration, to ensure that U.S. clean energy technology firms have the information and assistance they need to be competitive and to create clean energy technology sector jobs.

Security in Energy and Manufacturing (SEAM) Act (Rep. Rothman, H.R. 724): This program, initially created in the Recovery Act, invested $2.3 billion in tax credits for advanced energy manufacturing facilities generating more than 17,000 jobs and incentivizing an additional $5.4 billion in private-sector investment.

New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions (NAT GAS) Act (Reps. Sullivan, Boren, Larson, and Brady, H.R. 1380): Provides incentives to encourage private investment in natural gas refueling infrastructure and the production and purchasing of natural gas vehicles and trucks.

Advanced Vehicle Technology Act (Rep. Peters, H.R. 1367): The bill reauthorizes the Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies research programs (FreedomCar and the 21st Century Truck Partnership) so that the next generation of advanced vehicles can be built in America.

Energy Efficient Buildings and Homes: The Rural Energy Savings Program (Rep. Clyburn), along with the “Home Star” and “Building Star” programs, would support installation of American made energy efficient products.

Workforce Investment Act: Our economy is only as strong as the people who work to grow it. The American workforce investment system is supported by a partnership of educators, workforce development professionals and the business community who work together to ensure the vitality of local economies. A robust reauthorization of WIA will ensure that workers who seek opportunities in a new field or new opportunities within their own field have the support they need.

Job Opportunities Between our Shores (JOBS) Act (Whip Hoyer):Establishes a Workforce Investment Act pilot program to provide education and training programs in advanced manufacturing.

American Manufacturing Efficiency & Retraining Investment Collaboration (AMERICA Works) Act (Rep. Donnelly, H.R. 1325):Strengthens our workforce by helping American workers earn certifications, degrees, and qualifications for the jobs American industry needs to fill.

Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success (SECTORS) Act (Rep. Loebsack, H.R. 1240): Forms partnerships between businesses, unions, and educators to train workers for some of the most needed 21st Century jobs.

STEM Education: To strengthen American innovation, create the industries of the future, and ensure that our kids have the skills they need to fill well-paying jobs in those industries, we must invest in outstanding science, technology, engineering, and math education.

Ensure that states develop rigorous core standards in science, to complement standards in math and reading

Help interested science, technology, engineering, and math professionals enter teaching careers

Build community partnerships to create externship opportunities for students

Promote careers in manufacturing for high school students

Fully fund STEM education provisions in the America COMPETES Act to strengthen manufacturing education, increase STEM career opportunities for women and minorities, and recruit STEM teachers from underrepresented groups

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