Washington, D.C. – This week, Congressman Heath Shuler (D-Waynesville) voted to pass legislation designed to promote and increase U.S. manufacturing jobs.
The “U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act of 2010,” H.R. 4380, includes hundreds of tariff reductions and suspensions for American companies to help them expand, stay competitive and create more jobs on American soil. Commonly called the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB), the bill is expected to support tens of thousands of American jobs, reduce the cost of doing business, promote U.S. manufacturing and production, and increase the gross domestic product (GDP) by billions of dollars.
“This bill will create good-paying jobs for hardworking American families while creating an atmosphere that will encourage economic and employment growth for a long time,” said Rep. Shuler. “It’s time to get back to the way things were when people looked for the words ‘made in America’ on labels before making purchases. We have the skills, knowledge and know-how. We have the workers and the expertise, it is time to end unfair trade agreements and promote American manufacturing to get jobs back to American soil.”
More than 130 businesses and associations expressed support for the legislation, including the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, major U.S. textiles associations such as the NCTO and AMTAC, Panasonic, Whirlpool, DuPont, Eastman Chemical, Lasko, and Procter and Gamble. The bill passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote of 378-43.
“One of the reasons I was originally inspired to run for Congress in 2006 was to protect the jobs of hardworking Americans,” said Rep. Shuler. “Now, as a member of the Buy American Caucus, I am working to bring the jobs we lost overseas back to the United States. There is no question in my mind that my work in crafting and voting for common-sense, bipartisan legislation to create and sustain jobs, such as the U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act, is some of the most important work I do.”
###
