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

COLLEGE PARK, MD – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) visited Stone Industrial – a Maryland manufacturer since 1888 – to discuss the Democrats' "Make It In America" agenda and issues of importance to the local 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 creating an environment that encourages companies to invest in job creation and innovation here in the U.S.," stated Congressman Hoyer. "Meeting with representatives and employees of Stone Industrial, 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. Our nation needs to keep innovating and producing American goods so that we keep the economy growing and ensure that middle class families can make it in America."

Since it was founded in the 1800s, Stone Industrial has been at the forefront of innovation.  From the world's first spiral-wound drinking straw, patented in 1888, to today's modern, special design production lines capable of producing thousands of high-quality tubes an hour, Stone Industrial has led in almost every significant small-diameter spiral-wound tube innovation.

In 1928 electrical engineers began to use spiral-wound tubes as cores, spacers, and insulators used in the first mass produced radios. Since that time the process of spiral-wound tubing has found numerous uses in electric motors, electrical apparatus, electronic devices, electronic components, aerospace, textiles, automotive, fuses, batteries, transformers, pyrotechnics, medical packaging, product protection, and consumer/commercial packaging applications.

"Make It In America" is a legislative initiative from House Democrats to increase American manufacturing and create new American jobs.  Throughout the past several months, Hoyer has visited with the owners and employees and toured the facilities of manufacturers located in the Fifth District: JEM Engineering, A.D.J. Sheet Metal, Capital Plastics Company, Techno Sciences, and Stromberg Sheet Metal Works.

Since Democrats launched the Make It In America initiative, the following bills have become law:

• U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act: Makes it cheaper for American companies to obtain the materials they need to manufacture goods.
• Protecting American Patents: Helps unclog the backlog of 1.2 million patent applications so innovative ideas can move to market more quickly.
• Preventing Outsourcing: 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.
• Energy Jobs and Training for Veterans Act: Provides grants for programs to provide on-the-job training, apprenticeship, real experience, and long-term employment in all energy fields.
• COMPETES Act: Establishes innovative technology federal loan guarantees for small- and medium-sized manufacturers and invests in science, technology, engineering, and math education.