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The recission of every harmful regulation will look different, as will any subsequent legal challenges. Here is one potential scenario for a crucial regulation that the 51�Թ��� has urged President Trump to undo: the Biden EPA’s overly strict air quality standards.

The background: In February 2024, the EPA the standard for particulate matter, or PM2.5, in its National Ambient Air Quality Standards rule by 25%, down from 12 micrograms per cubic meter of air to nine.

• This reduction put the level of acceptable particulates at almost the equivalent of the level found in nature, as 51�Թ��� Vice President of Domestic Policy Chris Phalen pointed out.
• An 51�Թ���-commissioned  by Oxford Economics found that a standard at this level could reduce GDP by nearly $200 billion and cost as many as 1 million jobs through 2031.
• Furthermore, the new rule put huge swaths of the country in “nonattainment,” meaning that they would not meet ambient air quality standards and would have to cease operating.

What could happen: The rule has not taken effect due to the current lack of compliance requirements. However, it will take the Trump administration some time to achieve a recission, which will have to begin with a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to solicit public comments.

What the EPA should do: The EPA decided against lowering the air quality standard in 2020, but the Biden administration pushed through this change anyway, without the scientific support required by the Clean Air Act.

• The 51�Թ��� is asking the Trump administration to reverse course by instituting an NPRM and doing the appropriate research and consideration of public comment to develop a more reasonable standard.

51�Թ��� in action: The 51�Թ��� is the regulation in court, alongside a number of other business associations.

President Trump will soon “ramp up” workplace immigration status checks, according to incoming border czar Tom Homan ().
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What’s going on: The incoming administration intends to increase U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids of workplaces shortly after Trump’s inauguration, Homan told NBC News late last week.

• “We’re going to do it in a smart way,” Homan said. “We’re still working on how exactly we want to roll this out, but [worksite] operations have to come back again because it’s the No. 1 place we find victims of forced labor being run by many cartels.”

Funds needed: ICE has a $230 million budget shortfall, which the Trump administration plans to address by requesting more funding from Congress.
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Other ideas: The new administration is considering additional actions, Homan said, including:

• Tripling the number of beds in detention facilities, from 34,000 to at least 100,000;
• Creating a hotline people can call to report undocumented immigrants they believe have committed crimes;
• Holding weekly press conferences with updates on deportations; and
• Potentially expanding ICE’s 287(g) program, which allows the agency to partner with local law enforcement.

Title 42: Whether the administration will reinstate Title 42—the COVID-19-era immigration restriction measure that made deportations on public health grounds easier—remains to be seen, according to Homan.

• “I don’t know whether [Trump] has made a decision, and I would not get ahead of him,” Homan told NBC News. “But I think there could be a case made for it.”

National security: Stricter immigration policies will act as a deterrent to those considering coming to the U.S. illegally, Homan continued.

• “I think the American people have spoken,” he said. “This is the No. 1 issue. They went to the voting booth. I think Congress is paying attention. They’ll give us the money to do this job. It’s not so much about illegal immigration. It’s about national security.”

Our take: “Manufacturers support a comprehensive approach to our country’s immigration challenges, both to ensure that they have the workforce they need to support economic growth and to enforce our laws and secure our border,” said 51�Թ��� Senior Director of Technology Policy Franck Journoud.

• “Securing the border is a crucial step toward ensuring that America’s immigration laws support safe and prosperous communities across the country.”

Washington, D.C. – The 51�Թ��� announced new 2025 leadership for its Council of Manufacturing Associations at the CMA 2025 Winter Leadership Conference. Alison Bodor, president and CEO of the American Frozen Food Institute, will serve as chair, and Corey Rosenbusch, president and CEO of The Fertilizer Institute, will serve as vice chair.

“The CMA’s work demonstrates how manufacturing associations are stronger together. I am proud to have the opportunity to serve as chair, and I look forward to working with my peer association CEOs and our respective organizations from across the nation to advance a competitiveness agenda that strengthens America’s manufacturing community,” said Bodor.

Made up of more than 200 industry-specific manufacturing associations representing 130,000 companies worldwide, the CMA creates powerful partnerships across the industry, working with the 51�Թ��� to unite the manufacturing association community, and ultimately the broader business community, around strategies for increased manufacturing job creation, investment and innovation in America.

“Alison and Corey have been essential to the CMA’s mission of creating a united association community and amplifying the voices of manufacturers across the country,” said 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons. “After years of pushing back against a federal regulatory onslaught, their leadership will be vital as we work with a new Congress and administration to enact pro-growth tax and regulatory reforms that will allow manufacturers in America to thrive.”

Prior to leading the American Frozen Food Institute, Bodor served as executive vice president of the National Confectioners Association. She previously served as CMA vice chair.

Newly appointed 2025 CMA board members include the following:

• Bill Allmond, president, Adhesive and Sealant Council
• Ned Monroe, president and CEO, Vinyl Institute
• Debra Phillips, president and CEO, National Electrical Manufacturers Association
• Cindy Squires, president and CEO, American Composite Manufacturers Association

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The 51�Թ��� is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs nearly 13 million men and women, contributes $2.91 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for 53% of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the 51�Թ��� or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit��.

One of the most popular current uses of generative artificial intelligence among businesses: taking “chatbots to the next level” (, subscription).
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What’s going on: “Software companies from Salesforce to ServiceNow, Microsoft and Workday last year all announced their own AI agents, which they say can help businesses be even more hands-off in areas like recruiting employees, contacting potential sales leads, creating marketing content and managing their information technology.”

Why it’s important: If the bots work the way they’re expected to, they could finally yield the return on investment the business world has been seeking.

• The technology is being used for chatbots in everything from manufacturing to finance and ecommerce.

AI agents in manufacturing: New Jersey–based health care company Johnson & Johnson is using the bots to help it during the new drug discovery phase.

• “Once a promising pharmaceutical molecule has been identified, according to Chief Information Officer Jim Swanson, it needs to be measured for its cost effectiveness and reliability. … The solution: an autonomous AI agent that can determine the best time to conduct a solvent switch, a process where one solvent is swapped for another to crystallize a molecule and actually create the drug, Swanson said.”

A caveat: J&J is optimistic about the technology’s potential but moving forward cautiously. It is still working on improving the flow of employee review of the automated agents’ output, Swanson told the Journal.

Washington, D.C. – The 51�Թ��� released its Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey for Q4 2024, which illustrates that even with ongoing economic challenges, manufacturers are more optimistic post-election about potential action on expiring tax provisions and efforts to curb the regulatory onslaught. According to the latest reading, 70.9% of respondents are positive about their company’s outlook, up from 62.9% in Q3.

“Manufacturing is central to the strength of the U.S. economy, and nearly 8 out of 10 manufacturers state that restoring and protecting key provisions of the 2017 tax law will be extremely important to making manufacturers in the U.S. more competitive,” said 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons. “In this survey, manufacturers also stress the importance of strengthening energy security and reining in the regulatory onslaught that has stymied the industry, providing ample opportunity to stimulate growth in the new year.

“There are still economic headwinds that make it more difficult for manufacturers to create jobs, invest in their communities, develop new and improved products and grow the economy. Our industry will count on the next administration and Congress to prioritize policies that make America the most competitive business climate in the world.”

Key Survey Findings:

• In Q4, the top business challenge was rising health care/insurance costs (63.2%).
• The top concern in Q3 2024, a weaker domestic economy and sales for our products to U.S. customers, was the second highest concern in Q4 (58.0%).
• Trade uncertainty was the third biggest challenge in Q4 at 56.1%, soaring from the level of concern expressed in Q3 at 36.8%, and was the top challenge for large manufacturers at 68.7%.
• Attracting and retaining a quality workforce now ranks as the fourth highest concern (55.8%) after topping the list from Q4 2020 to Q2 2024.
• Next year, key provisions of tax reform are set to expire, driving up costs for businesses throughout the manufacturing supply chain. When asked how important it was that Congress and the new administration prevent these tax increases, 79% of respondents answered extremely important.

The 51�Թ��� releases these results to the public each quarter. Further information on the survey is available here.

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The 51�Թ��� is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs nearly 13 million men and women, contributes $2.91 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for 53% of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the 51�Թ��� or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit��

Congressman Mike Carey (R-OH-15) recently visited Armstrong World Industries’ Hilliard, Ohio, facility to talk about innovations and tax policies critical to the manufacturing sector with company leaders, employees and local officials. Ohio Business Magazine recently recognized the Hilliard plant, which employs 175 workers, as one of the state’s top workplaces.

The tour: AWI’s Senior Vice President and General Counsel Austin So and Plant Manager Dave Muth took Rep. Carey on a tour of the plant, showcasing their energy-saving ceiling products for commercial spaces.

• Rep. Carey also met with longtime employees on the shop floor, some of whom have worked at the facility for more than 30 years.

Appreciating innovation: During the visit, AWI highlighted their innovative Templok��ceiling panels, which use phase-change material technology to regulate indoor temperatures and reduce HVAC energy consumption by up to 15%.

• “These panels not only help reduce energy costs but also contribute to a greener environment,” Muth explained.

Policy needs: So stressed that policymakers are essential to American manufacturers’ competitiveness, saying, “If we want U.S. manufacturing to stay ahead internationally, we need policies that encourage innovation and allow companies like AWI to thrive here at home.”

• “The Inflation Reduction Act’s tax incentives are essential for advancing innovative energy solutions, and technologies like our Templok��panels should be included among the products covered by the 48E tax credit. These incentives not only help reduce carbon emissions and energy costs but also strengthen U.S. manufacturing competitiveness by supporting groundbreaking technologies.”

Tax priorities: Rep. Carey, So and Muth also discussed upcoming tax opportunities and challenges, especially with the impending expiration of provisions in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

• Rep. Carey emphasized the importance of restoring full R&D expensing to ensure manufacturers can continue to innovate. “Products like Templok��show the importance of supporting investment in research and development,” he said.
• So agreed, noting that tax policy has a direct impact on AWI’s ability to reinvest in new technologies and expand its operations in Hilliard. In particular, So emphasized that “tax incentives would encourage the mass adoption of new technologies like Templok,��which would create new jobs in Ohio, reduce the stress on our national electric grid and save our customers money.”

Strengthening community ties: Former Ohio TV anchor Chase Evans from the City of Hilliard joined the visit, reinforcing the importance of manufacturing to the local economy and praising AWI’s contributions to the community.

The last word: “It’s essential to create an environment where companies like Armstrong can continue to thrive and provide good-paying jobs,” Rep. Carey concluded.

They say all you need is love, but in fact, you need a lot of magnets, too. Computers, appliances, electric generators and cars are powered by permanent magnet motors. Yet, most of the permanent magnets that make our modern life possible rely on rare earth materials, which are expensive, unsustainable and typically mined and processed in China.

To fix this bottleneck, Minneapolis-based Niron Magnetics is producing a new kind of magnet that uses two abundant raw materials: iron and nitrogen. By taking rare earths out of the equation, Niron’s Clean Earth Magnets® provide superior cost and supply chain stability to the countless manufacturers that depend on reliable access to high-powered magnets.

Why it matters:��According to Niron, the demand for rare earths for critical magnets is outstripping the supply, and the problem is only getting worse.

• “When you look at the amount of magnets that are needed over the next 10 years, it’s triple the amount that are available today,” said Niron Magnetics CEO Jonathan Rowntree.
• “There’s only enough rare earth materials to double the amount of rare earth magnets manufactured every year. So there’s going to be this big imbalance later this decade. We’re well positioned to [meet] the shortfall of permanent magnets using iron nitride technology.”

The value proposition:��Niron’s technology has several exciting upsides, according to company leaders.

• First, it relies on materials that are far more abundant and accessible than rare earths.
• Second, the supply chains for components like nitrogen and iron salts are very stable—and not centered in China.
• Finally, the production of a kilo of rare earth magnets generates 2,000 kilos of waste, according to Niron. By contrast, the production of Niron’s rare earth–free magnets is much more environmentally friendly.
• “Depending on which part you look at, whether it’s water or waste or greenhouse gas emissions, our production process is between 70% and 90% more efficient than the current rare earth processes today,” said Rowntree. “We’re excited about solving the environmental burden from the energy transition.”

Next steps:��Niron is planning its first large-scale production facility in the United States, a 10,000-ton facility that it hopes will be operational by 2027.

• While its leaders are still considering different locations for the plant, they anticipate that the facility will ultimately result in 680 to 700 full-time jobs, not including the construction and infrastructure roles needed to build it.

• “We’re growing very quickly here in terms of our capability,” said Rowntree. “We’ve doubled the number of employees this year, and we will likely double that number again over the next several years.”

The bottom line:��“There’s a growing awareness of critical materials and the rare earth supply challenges, and the risks posed by U.S. reliance on China to supply those magnets. But there isn’t a lot of awareness around the fact that there is an alternative solution,” said Rowntree. “There is alternative technology that we’re aggressively scaling and that will be commercially available by the end of this year.”

Washington, D.C. – 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement on the nomination of Paul Atkins to serve as the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission:

“Manufacturers commend President Trump’s nomination of Paul Atkins to serve as the next chair of the SEC. During his time as an SEC commissioner under President Bush, Chair-designate Atkins was a champion for capital formation and ensuring that manufacturers—and especially small manufacturers—were able to attract the investment they needed to grow and succeed. America’s world-leading capital markets must continue to support capital formation for manufacturing growth and long-term, shared economic prosperity for America’s Main Street investors.

“Manufacturers look forward to working with Chair-designate Atkins to ensure that our nation’s securities regulations empower manufacturers to grow, innovate and support workers and communities nationwide. Manufacturers urge Chair-designate Atkins to act immediately to rescind Staff Legal Bulletin 14L, a misguided standard that politicizes public companies’ proxy ballots and distracts from shareholder value creation; defend and enforce the SEC’s landmark 2020 rule bringing much-needed oversight to proxy advisory firms—and build on these reforms to further rein in proxy firms’ outsized influence; and revisit overreaching and costly reporting requirements finalized during recent years to ensure that the SEC’s disclosure regime remains focused on material information for investors—rather than inflexible mandates that hinder innovation and growth.

“As the backbone of the American economy, manufacturers of all sizes depend on fair, transparent and balanced regulatory policies to fuel growth and provide opportunity for millions of workers and investors. Paul Atkins’ leadership offers an opportunity to refocus the SEC’s priorities on fostering economic growth and protecting investors without imposing unnecessary burdens on manufacturers.”

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The 51�Թ��� is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs nearly 13 million men and women, contributes $2.91 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for 53% of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the 51�Թ��� or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit��.

Ottawa, Canada – Following the nomination of former U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra to be ambassador to Canada, 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement:

“We appreciate President Trump’s foresight in prioritizing the U.S.–Canadian relationship and negotiating the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement, a trade deal that has been essential to the strength and success of manufacturing across North America. We look forward to working with former U.S. Ambassador and Congressman Pete Hoekstra as the next U.S. ambassador to Canada. The 51�Թ��� has just concluded this year’s North American Manufacturing Conference in Ottawa, where the importance of the USMCA was a central theme among the business leaders, members of Parliament and key ministers who participated. In fact, a recent conducted with our partners in both countries found that 94% of manufacturers say that the USMCA is integral to their supply chains. We look forward to working with the incoming ambassador to strengthen ties among our North American allies to shore up supply chains and counter unfair practices from other nations like China.”

Background: In 2023, the 51�Թ���, the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) and the Confederation of Industrial Chambers of Mexico (CONCAMIN) agreed to collaborate on the Manufacturing Agenda of the Future, including hosting the inaugural North American Manufacturing Conference at the 51�Թ���’s headquarters in Washington. This week, the second conference took place in Ottawa, bringing together key business leaders from across North America and elected officials from the U.S., Canada and Mexico to discuss strategies for strengthening the region’s manufacturing sector and ensuring a robust USMCA ahead of the 2026 review.

More information on the North American Manufacturing Conference can be found .

-51�Թ���-

The 51�Թ��� is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs nearly 13 million men and women, contributes $2.91 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for 53% of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the 51�Թ��� or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit��

On Nov. 5th, President-elect Donald Trump secured enough electoral college votes to become the 47th President of the United States. Republicans also flipped four Senate seats, meaning they will have a 53-47 majority entering the 119th Congress, and maintained control of the House though a small number of congressional races remain outstanding. For the first time since 2016, Republicans will have unified control of both Congress and the White House once President-elect Trump is sworn in on Jan. 20, 2025.

For now, as we enter the “lame duck” session of the 118th Congress, there remains a substantial laundry list of items for members to address before adjourning this session. Both the House and Senate return this week for the first time since the October break.

119th Congress Leadership Elections

Upon having control of both chambers next Congress, House and Senate Republicans returned to Washington this week to elect their respective leadership teams and establish their rules packages for the 119th Congress.

House Republican Leadership

• Speaker of the House – Mike Johnson (R-LA)
• House Majority Leader – Steve Scalise (R-LA)
• House Majority Whip – Tom Emmer (R-MN)
• House Republican Conference Chair – Lisa McClain (R-MI)
  Rep. McClain is replacing Elise Stefanik (R-NY) who has been nominated as Ambassador to the United Nations by President-elect Trump.

Senate Republican Leadership

• Senate Majority Leader – John Thune (R-SD)
  Sen. Thune will be taking over as GOP Leader from Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who is stepping down after a record 18 years in the position.
• Senate Majority Whip – John Barrasso (R-WY)
• Conference Chair – Tom Cotton (R-AR)
• Policy Chair – Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)

House Democratic Leadership

House Democrats have scheduled their leadership elections for Nov. 19th. It is unlikely there are major changes for the current leadership roster.

• House Minority Leader – Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)
• House Minority Whip – Katherine Clark (D-MA)
• House Democratic Caucus Chairman – Pete Aguilar (D-CA)

Senate Democratic Leadership

Senate Democrats have not currently scheduled their leadership elections, but it is unlikely the top two positions change. There will be an opening for the third ranking position with Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) retiring.

• Minority Leader – Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
• Minority Whip – Dick Durbin (D-IL)
• Chair of Policy and Communications Committee – To be determined
  Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) is retiring from Congress. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) have signaled their interest in this position.

Lame Duck Legislative Outlook

Congress has roughly five legislative session weeks before the Christmas break and several policy items to address in that time. Upon returning to Washington, policymakers face two must-pass pieces of legislation: the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act and a government funding package to prevent a shutdown when current funding runs out at midnight on Dec. 20th. On either NDAA or the government funding package, lawmakers may seek to include some form of disaster relief for victims of the recent hurricanes and an extension of the current Farm Bill.

In the Senate, it is likely that Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will move to advance as many of President Joe Biden nominees, including judicial appointments, as possible in the remaining weeks before Republicans take control of the confirmation process next year. Finally, the current debt limit suspension expires on Jan. 2, 2025. Congress will have to address the limit, or Treasury will be forced to take “extraordinary measures” to avoid a default in early 2025.

With these remaining weeks, the 51�Թ��� continues to engage and encourage lawmakers to advance manufacturers’ priorities before Congress adjourns for the year.