Hoyer Delivers Remarks at "Make It In Maryland" Rally
BALTIMORE, MD – This afternoon, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) joined Governor Martin O'Malley, Congressman John Sarbanes, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Maryland manufacturers, and others, for a rally hosted by the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland (RMI) in support of Maryland manufacturers and their products. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:
"With millions out of work, Americans want to know if Congress has a plan to rebuild American industry and create jobs. Democrats do have a plan.
"The Make It In America plan, an initiative to strengthen American manufacturing and the jobs it creates. As part of that initiative, I'm committed to building industry and jobs here in Maryland—so that more businesses, and more families, can Make It In Maryland.
"The facets of the Make It In America plan are: providing incentives for manufacturing investment; encouraging innovation; creating a level playing field for U.S. manufacturers; improving U.S. infrastructure; strengthening the labor pool through education and training; coordinating federal, state, and local efforts to support U.S. manufacturing; corporate tax reform; and smarter regulations.
"Make It In America bills on the agenda right now include a plan to create an infrastructure bank to facilitate investment in everything from broadband to energy systems to modern ports, so that we can out-build our international competitors. We're also working on currency reform, to hold accountable countries that manipulate currency to gain an unfair trade advantage. We want to expand and make permanent the R&D tax credit to spur innovation. We want to promote job-training links between advanced manufacturers and community colleges here in Maryland. And we want a simpler, more efficient tax code for businesses.
"President Obama signed six Make It In America bills into law last year, and we need to build on that success. MIIA appeals to everyone—liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans, urban and rural—because the American people understand that a strong manufacturing base is essential to U.S. prosperity.
"I've been reaching out to manufacturers, trade associations, labor groups, think tanks, and academics to identify and develop additional legislation, and I've had the chance to visit and listen to some of the leading manufacturers in our state to discuss the ways we can help more people Make It In Maryland. It's been informative and inspiring to meet with Maryland manufacturers and learn about both their successes and their challenges—businesses like Stone Industries in College Park, which originated the straw, and the innovative defense company Adcor, in Baltimore. Those are businesses that are growing here, creating jobs here, and innovating here. Those are the kind of Maryland employers that can benefit from the Make It In America plan.
"I look forward to hearing from you today and working with you on policies that will grow the manufacturing base and our economy, increase U.S. exports, and create jobs."