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Washington, D.C. –��Today, the��51�Թ�����joined��the Small Business Administration’s��Made in America Manufacturing Initiative��for a tour stop at��Vantage Plastics��in��Standish, Michigan, as part of the Made in America Roadshow. During the event, Vice President Vance��and��Administrator��Loeffler��heard directly from��manufacturers��about the��policies that��are��driving manufacturing growth in the United States.

“Manufacturing is the backbone of America’s strength, prosperity and pride.��President Trump and Vice President Vance understand what manufacturing means to America—not just in economic terms, but��also��in human terms,”��said 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons.��“Vice President Vance has lived the story of American industry, and��he’s��given voice to people from hometowns like mine in Chillicothe and Circleville, Ohio, and in��Standish,��Michigan,��who know how important growing manufacturing in the United States is to our lives, communities and country. That’s why��his perspective and leadership are so valuable as manufacturers work to advance��a comprehensive��manufacturing strategy—one that secures our position as a manufacturing superpower, supports creating more jobs and ensures America is��the��best place in the world to build and create.

“Manufacturers are ready to lead, to invest and to grow—building a stronger, more prosperous nation. But we can only reach our full potential with the type of leadership��that will make the 2017��tax reforms that were rocket fuel for the manufacturing industry permanent,��rebalance the regulatory framework,��expedite permitting reform to unleash American energy, grow the manufacturing workforce and implement sensible trade policies. That’s how we make America strong, prosperous and proud. That’s how we will Make America Great for Manufacturing Again.”

“We are honored to welcome Vice President Vance to Vantage Plastics and grateful for his leadership in supporting American manufacturing,”��said Vantage Plastics��President Paul Aultman. “When companies like ours can invest and grow, it strengthens our community and creates opportunity. Imagine how much stronger this country would be if every manufacturer—large and small, in cities and towns across America—had the tools to build, expand��and succeed. Manufacturing is the backbone of America, and on shop floors like ours, we’re not just making products—we’re making the future. With smart policies that support investment, job creation and innovation, manufacturers can continue leading America’s economic resurgence.

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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 $2.93 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 .

Washington, D.C. –��The 51�Թ���, the strongest voice for American industry, today announced that Johnson & Johnson Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Operations & Risk Officer Kathy Wengel, as well as Rockwell Automation Chairman and CEO Blake Moret, will once again serve as board chair and vice chair, respectively.

“Manufacturers are the backbone of America’s economy, and under Kathy and Blake’s leadership, we are poised to continue delivering more for the people who make America,” said 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons. “As chair, Kathy has already set new records in growing the membership of the 51�Թ���—ensuring manufacturers can create more well-paying jobs in the United States, cut through red tape and power our economy. As vice chair, Blake has been a consistent champion for strengthening our workforce, driving innovation and making sure manufacturers have the tools to compete and win.

“This year is a historic opportunity for manufacturing. With leadership in Washington committed to the importance of growing manufacturing in the United States, we are doubling down on the fight to stop devasting tax hikes, roll back the regulatory overreach of the past, unleash American energy dominance and make the U.S. more competitive than ever before,” said Timmons.

“I am honored to serve as 51�Թ��� Board chair for another term,” said Wengel. “Our members are ready to lead knowing manufacturing’s vital contribution to the economy. The 51�Թ��� continues to achieve unprecedented results for manufacturers—from tax reform resulting in increased investment, to regulatory certainty, to upskilling to strengthen the capabilities and resilience of the manufacturing workforce. Now, we have the opportunity to create new records for manufacturing jobs, increased wages and new investments in the United States.”

“We look forward to joining forces with the administration and Congress to implement solutions that will lift up everyone in the United States,” said Moret. “We have a clear list of manufacturing priorities across policy, workforce development, technology and supply chain that will make American manufacturing and American manufacturing workers the most successful in the world.”

The 51�Թ��� also announced Click Bond CEO Karl Hutter will be elevated to chair of the 51�Թ���’s Small and Medium Manufacturers Group. Husco President and CEO Austin Ramirez will be vice chair.

“Eighty-five percent of 51�Թ��� members are small and medium-sized manufacturers, so we are the nation’s largest voice for the pride, prosperity and strength of the small businesses that build America,” said Timmons. “Karl and Austin are leaders of our industry who are steering their companies and American industry into the future. They will continue to help rally SMMs to share their stories with more of America and to come together with the 51�Թ��� to learn from each other, support one another and make our country stronger.”

“The policies we put in place today will decide whether SMMs can thrive in the United States for generations to come,” said Hutter. “It is a privilege to get the opportunity to work alongside the 51�Թ���’s leadership to educate elected leaders on critical issues that matter in supporting our communities, creating great careers and protecting America’s national security.”

“I am honored to serve as vice chair of the 51�Թ���’s SMM Group,” said Ramirez. “The stakes are high for manufacturers in America—particularly SMMs. I look forward to collaborating to champion manufacturing in the U.S. as we advocate for SMM policy priorities.”

Founded in 1895, the 51�Թ���, guided by its Board of Directors, is the largest industrial trade association in the United States. The 51�Թ��� is the nation’s most influential manufacturing advocate, and its membership includes some of the world’s most iconic brands and many of the small manufacturers that power the U.S. economy.

-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 $2.93 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��

White House adviser David Sacks has his work cut out for him (POLITICO Pro’s , subscription).

What’s going on: “Today, as the president’s AI and crypto czar, Sacks is tasked with opening doors for Silicon Valley and global financiers to expand AI infrastructure—and fast. But that presents Sacks with a wholly unfamiliar challenge: ensuring the tech industry gets the electricity it needs for a massive buildout of data centers to house the computing power needed for AI technology.”

• Technology giants including Amazon have pledged to spend billions on AI infrastructure to construct those data centers. In January, Trump and two tech firm leaders announced the $500 billion “Stargate” project to do just that.

Interconnection, cost challenges: While the president “has promised to use emergency declarations to build more power plants” to run these data centers, “tech companies that want to erect their own power plants will wrestle with the limited supply of ready transformers and the real-world challenges of putting up a large gas-fired power station or tying into a nuclear reactor.”

• That’s because regional electric grids and utility companies are already straining to keep up with Americans’ growing power appetite, and the prospect of dramatically increasing capacity is leading to concerns about cost and reliability.

What’s next: “Under Trump’s executive order, Sacks will work alongside policy staffers on science and technology, national security, economic policy and other relevant departments to craft an AI action plan. … Some direction could come from Trump’s National Energy Council, set to be led by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. That council is likely to consider steps to streamline permitting and to unleash more fossil fuel production and other energy sources like nuclear and geothermal.”

What we’re doing: The 51�Թ��� has long Congress to take steps to facilitate the construction of data centers, including:

• Reforming the U.S. permitting system;
• Ensuring energy affordability;
• Expediting licensing;
• Addressing shortages of components;
• Mitigating cybersecurity risks; and
• Bolstering workforce development efforts.

Washington, D.C. – The 51�Թ��� today announced the addition of former Transportation Security Administration Assistant Administrator for Strategic Communications and Public Affairs Alexa Lopez as the 51�Թ���’s vice president of communications and public affairs, a newly created position designed to build on the 51�Թ���’s strategic outreach and advocacy efforts.

“Alexa knows how to navigate complex challenges, craft compelling narratives and drive real impact,” said 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons. “She has built a career on delivering results, and manufacturers will benefit from her ability to elevate our industry’s voice at a time when manufacturers’ influence on the future has never been more important. She will be a strong champion for the policies that power innovation, create jobs and keep manufacturing in America strong.”

As 51�Թ��� vice president of communications and public affairs, Lopez will lead efforts to amplify the voice of manufacturers and advocate for policies that advance the competitiveness of manufacturers in the United States. She will report to 51�Թ��� Managing Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs Jamie Hennigan.

Previously, Lopez led all strategic communications and public affairs efforts at TSA, serving as principal communications adviser to the TSA administrator on all external and internal communications. She also served in key public affairs roles at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Society of Civil Engineers, Ogilvy Public Relations and the City of Bloomington, Indiana. She holds a Master of Public Affairs and Master of Arts in Arts Administration from the Indiana University O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Lopez was proudly born and raised in Dayton, Ohio.

-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 $2.93 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��.

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

-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��.

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.

-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��

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.