Congressman Hoyer Visits Local Manufacturer as Part of "Make It In America" Tour

WHITE PLAINS, MD – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) visited A.D.J. Sheet Metal, Inc to discuss the Democrats' Make It In America agenda and issues of importance to the area manufacturer as they work to successfully compete in the global economy.

"The Make It In America agenda aims to create jobs and restore the competitiveness of our domestic manufacturing industry by providing incentives for companies to invest in job creation and innovation here in the U.S.,"  stated Congressman Hoyer. "Meeting with representatives and employees of A.D.J. Sheet Metal, I saw firsthand their desire to compete in the global economy and I am committed to ensuring that they have the resources and support to do so. The greater the number of goods that are made in America, the greater the opportunities for our middle-class families to make it in America."

"We were pleased to have Congressman Hoyer tour our manufacturing facilities and discuss his plans for ‘Make it in America.' It is a pleasure seeing him so involved in keeping jobs in America and working to reduce the unemployment rate," said Greg Pickens, owner of  A.D.J. Sheet Metal, Inc.

A.D.J. Sheet Metal is a union sheet metal contractor located in White Plains, Maryland.  Pickens started A.D.J. out of his home in 2002, and in just over eight years, A.D.J. has grown to a company of over 130 employees with sales of over $15 million in 2009.  A.D.J. has grown 8% in the year 2010, and since acquiring a new 45,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Charles County, is projecting a growth of 12% in 2011.  A.D.J.'s work ranges from commercial service jobs to design-assist, tenant renovations, new construction, and government work, and they have contracts in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia.

A.D.J. produces all of its own HVAC ducts in its fully-automated shop with a decoil line, two plasma tables, and a spiral pipe machine.  Their sketching/drawing department uses an AutoCad based QuickPen 2008 3D program with 3D BIM modeling.

"Make It In America" is a legislative initiative from House Democrats to increase American manufacturing and create new American jobs.  In August, Hoyer visited with the owners and employees and toured the facilities of three manufacturers located in Beltsville, MD:  Capital Plastics Company, Techno Sciences, and Stromberg Sheet Metal Works.

The House has already passed 16 Make It In America bills, and 5 have been enacted into law, including:

• Energy Jobs and Training Energy Jobs for Veterans Act: provides grants for programs to provide on-the-job training, apprenticeship, real experience, and long-term employment in all energy fields for veterans.
• U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act: Makes it cheaper for American companies to obtain the materials they need to manufacture goods.
• Protecting American Patents: Will help unclog the backlog of 1.2 million patent applications so innovative ideas can move to market more quickly.
• Preventing outsourcing legislation: Prevents the outsourcing of U.S. jobs by closing tax loopholes that encourage companies to send U.S. jobs overseas.
• Small Business Jobs Act: Expands much needed lending to millions of small businesses and offers tax incentives to help small businesses grow, hire, and fuel our economy, without adding a dime to the deficit.