Senator Hassan Joins Colleagues in Introducing Bipartisan Bill to Increase U.S. Advanced Manufacturing’s Global Competitiveness

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan joined her colleagues this week in introducing the Global Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing Act, which will promote expansion of the national network of Manufacturing USA institutes and strengthen American manufacturing. The bill is also cosponsored by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Thom Tillis (R-NC).

The Manufacturing USA program is a national network of 14 public-private partnership institutes with 1,300-member companies and institutions working to keep the U.S. on the cutting edge of advanced manufacturing. The institutes have generated $2 billion in industry-matched funding to transition innovative technologies from lab to market and to expand the production of goods made in America.  The Manufacturing USA Program includes Manchester, New Hampshire’s ARMI/BioFabUSA, a leader in bio-fabrication research, development, and manufacturing.

“This legislation will give a boost to New Hampshire’s manufacturing sector, which creates good jobs and the innovative products that are crucial to our state’s economic success,” Senator Hassan said. “By expanding the national network of Manufacturing USA institutes – which includes Manchester’s own biofabrication manufacturer, BioFabUSA – we can help drive economic growth and expand opportunity for hard-working Granite Staters and Americans.” 

The successful Manufacturing USA program is being copied by China, with the “Made in China 2025” plan directly replicating the U.S. institutes. China is making enormous investments in its manufacturing capabilities and has committed to establishing 40 Manufacturing USA-like institutes by 2025. This bill continues U.S. investments to develop new Manufacturing USA institutes and strengthen advanced manufacturing resources for the national network to compete globally and maintain U.S. economic and national security.

The bill also embeds a liaison of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) in each Manufacturing USA institute to assist with cybersecurity training, workforce development and technology transfer for small- and medium-sized manufacturers. 

A summary of the bill can be found here and the bill text can be found here. 

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