07/25/2014
PUBLIC POLICY
Make Your Voice Heard During August Recess. Members of the U.S. House and Senate are never more accessible to manufacturers than during the August recess, when they leave Washington behind for their home districts. The National Association of Manufacturers ( NAM) urges manufacturers to use the month-long recess from August 4 through September 8 to remind lawmakers about the NAM’s Growth Agenda and the importance of manufacturing’s role in the economy.
It is important to focus your August outreach efforts on two critical issues that impact manufacturing competitiveness and job creation:
Embrace Responsible and Reasonable Regulations—Manufacturers are committed to protecting the environment through greater sustainability, increased energy efficiency and conservation, and reduced emissions. Over the past three decades, the manufacturing sector has greatly decreased its environmental footprint while improving productivity. However, these advances have not been without cost. With some of the largest, most expensive new regulations in history on the immediate horizon, manufacturers need a balanced approach to environmental policies, not overly restrictive regulations that unnecessarily slow growth, increase costs and hurt competitiveness.
Reauthorize the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank—With the Ex-Im Bank set to expire on September 30, it is more critical than ever for manufacturers of all sizes to tell lawmakers about how the bank helps your company export, create jobs and compete overseas. Remind them that failure to reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank threatens manufacturing competitiveness in a tough global economy where overseas competitors are often backed by their own highly aggressive government trade finance programs.
You can most effectively convey manufacturers’ priorities through face-to-face interaction with lawmakers. The NAM’s Plant Tour Guide is a step-by-step guide for bringing members of Congress into your manufacturing facilities.
“Manufacturing plant visits offer an opportunity to build lasting relationships with members of Congress and their staff,” said NAM Vice President of Public Affairs Tiffany Adams. “They provide opportunities for lawmakers to meet with their constituents, hear the success stories and the struggles that manufacturers face, and witness how their policies work in real life.”
You also can ask to meet your elected officials in their district office to discuss key legislative priorities with them in person.
In addition, August is an excellent time to gear up for the midterm elections. The NAM is committed to changing the way advocacy is done and making 2014 the “Year of the Manufacturing Voter.” In November, Americans will head to the polls to elect 435 representatives, 36 senators and 36 governors. We need thoughtful women and men in office who understand that the right policies can help build a strong, thriving manufacturing economy. We need your help to elect pro-growth, pro-manufacturing candidates.
The NAM’s 2014 Election Center offers an array of resources to help you talk with your employees about voting and motivate them to go to the polls. The exciting new tools available include a guide for building an effective and legally sound Get Out the Vote campaign, key voting dates and deadlines, political analysis and summaries of critical manufacturing issues.
Click here to visit our August Recess Action Center for talking points on policy issues, tips for a successful in-district meeting and links to all of the other available tools to help you put your advocacy into action this August!
NAHAD is a member association of National Association of Manufacturers.