Equipment Manufacturers Support DOC Report

MILWAUKEE?EUR??,,????'??+The Association of Equipment Manufacturers welcomed the new recommendations of the U.S. Department of Commerce to foster U.S. competitiveness in manufacturing.

Those recommendations were made in the report ?EUR??,,????'??Manufacturing in America: A Comprehensive Strategy to Address the Success of U.S. Manufacturers?EUR??,,????'?? issued Jan. 16 by Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans.

AEM helped organize a DOC roundtable discussion in 2003 to gather input for the report and encouraged its members to participate in similar roundtables nationwide.

?EUR??,,????'??We?EUR??,,????'???re grateful for the Administration?EUR??,,????'???s focus on the importance of manufacturing to the U.S. economy and for the chance to provide input into the development of the DOC agenda to address the long-term health of the manufacturing sector,?EUR??,,????'?? said AEM chair Ronald M. DeFeo.

Enhancing transportation infrastructure was an AEM priority that was included in the report. According to DeFeo, every $1 billion in federal highway funds creates 47,500 jobs and provides nearly $2 billion a year in family income.

?EUR??,,????'??Passing a well-funded, six-year transportation bill would stimulate the equipment manufacturing sector and the overall economy,?EUR??,,????'?? he said.