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Washington, D.C. – Following President-elect Joe Biden’s announcement nominating Denis McDonough for Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons released this statement:

“Throughout his career, Denis McDonough has proven to be a leader of extraordinary capability. He brings a focused, collaborative approach to any mission, and he has proven a strong commitment to our nation’s veterans. We congratulate him on this announcement.

“Through The Manufacturing Institute’s Heroes MAKE America initiative, manufacturers are working every day to help our veterans and members of the military community find new careers in modern manufacturing. We have been working with the VA to support the veteran community in translating their skills into new opportunities in our industry. We look forward to working with Secretary-designate McDonough and the VA in the Biden administration to build on this work—supporting our heroes and strengthening manufacturing in America.”

-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 more than 12.2 million men and women, contributes $2.35 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and has the largest economic multiplier of any major sector and accounts for 62% 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 www.nam.org.

About the MI

The MI grows and supports the manufacturing industry’s skilled workers for the advancement of modern manufacturing. The MI’s diverse initiatives support all workers in America, including women, veterans and students, through skills training programs, community building and the advancement of their career in manufacturing. As the workforce development and education partner of the 51�Թ���, the MI is a trusted adviser to manufacturers, equipping them with resources necessary to solve the industry’s toughest challenges. For more information on the MI, please visit creatorswanted.org��

About Heroes MAKE America

Heroes MAKE America, an initiative launched by the MI to build connections between the military community and manufacturing industry, is a Department of Defense (DoD) SkillBridge approved training program that equips participants with the skills and certifications needed to find and excel in manufacturing careers. Service members, their families, veterans and reservists are eligible for the program which currently operates at military installations in Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Kentucky and Kansas. The Heroes team recently launched Heroes Connect, a 100 percent virtual offering that allows prospective talent from the military community to connect with hiring managers from manufacturing companies. The new offering was created to supplement a cornerstone of the Heroes program which was to provide weekly tours of manufacturing facilities looking to hire Heroes graduates. For more information on Heroes initiative, please visit themanufacturinginstitute.org/veterans/heroes-make-america

We’ve begun to see our states and towns return to lockdowns—usually with very different rules than their neighbors. But this time around, manufacturers want to avoid the uncertainty and inconsistency of the spring shutdowns, so the 51�Թ��� is calling on all state and local leaders to follow federal guidance on designating essential workers. Here’s a quick review of that guidance, put forward by Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

What it is: The “Essential Critical Infrastructure Worker” guidance was initially drafted after shelter-in-place orders contributed to temporary product shortages in the spring, exposing vulnerabilities in U.S. supply chains and essential services. In response, most states directly adopted the CISA guidance to create a measure of stability.

The guidance lists the types of workers supporting critical supply chains and infrastructure in areas like health care, telecommunications, food and agriculture and transportation—basically, a comprehensive explanation of which roles are necessary to keep the country safe and moving.

The latest version: The guidance includes the latest safety recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The most recent update recommends a “risk mitigation strategy” to help employers maintain worker safety, which includes:

• Creating a methodology for understanding potential risks to workers, taking into account factors like close contact between workers and indoor vs. outdoor activities;
• Identifying workers who could potentially work from home;
• Assessing how critical or unique any given worker’s role is in order to limit the number of employees working together onsite; and
• Examining the allocation of scarce resources for workers based on the availability of safety measures like PPE and testing.

The last word: “Manufacturers are the backbone of America’s COVID-19 response and economic recovery, and we are committed to operating in a safe and sustainable way as we weather this crisis,” said 51�Թ��� Vice President of Energy and Resources Policy Rachel Jones. “The CISA guidance provides a clear, useful and uniform mechanism for state and local governments and business leaders to identify what must safely keep running. We urge all state and local governments and businesses to adopt the CISA framework and follow its recommendations.”

Washington, D.C. – Following President-elect Joe Biden’s announcement nominating Tom Vilsack for Secretary of Agriculture, 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons released this statement:

“As the pandemic has made abundantly clear, manufacturers play an essential role in producing and protecting our nation’s food supply and keeping our families fed. We look forward to working with Sec. Vilsack when he returns to the Department of Agriculture to ensure that manufacturers can continue fulfilling this mission and that in times of critical stress, the manufacturing workers in our food supply chain are always recognized as the essential workers that they are.

“After eight years leading the department, Sec. Vilsack undoubtedly has the experience to steer the USDA through these challenging times. We congratulate him on his nomination to serve the nation once again. Through the years, I’ve had the chance to work with Sec. Vilsack, including when he served as governor of Iowa and I was doing work for the National Governors Association. As I saw firsthand, he was ahead of his time in advancing equal opportunity and inclusion, and he has a firm belief in igniting opportunity for all Americans. His collaborative, bipartisan, results-oriented approach will be a strong addition to the Biden administration.”

-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 more than 12.2 million men and women, contributes $2.35 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and has the largest economic multiplier of any major sector and accounts for 62% 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 www.nam.org.

Washington, D.C. – 51�Թ��� Vice President of Energy and Resources Policy Rachel Jones released the following statement on the EPA’s reforms to how it conducts cost-benefit analysis:

“Our goal at the 51�Թ��� is to make our environment and our communities better. The agency’s strengthening of the cost-benefit analysis process will provide clarity and transparency for the American people and allow our members to create high-paying jobs and make investments that will protect our air and water. This initiative will have an immediate positive impact on our country and allow the EPA to get regulations done right the first time.”

-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 more than 12.2 million men and women, contributes $2.35 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and has the largest economic multiplier of any major sector and accounts for 62% 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. – Following President-elect Joe Biden’s announcement that he will nominate Gen. Lloyd Austin as Secretary of Defense, 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement:

“Throughout history, manufacturers have been the arsenal of democracy, a role that we have reprised in a new way during the pandemic, working with the Department of Defense on the procurement and distribution of vaccines and vital supplies to battle COVID-19. We are committed to ensuring that work continues when Gen. Austin takes the lead at the Pentagon.

“Gen. Austin will bring more than four decades of valuable, battle-tested experience to this role, and manufacturers congratulate him on the nomination to join a Cabinet that already represents many historic firsts.

“In addition to our COVID-19 response, manufacturers look forward to working with the next secretary to support military members after their service is fulfilled. Through The Manufacturing Institute’s Heroes MAKE America initiative, we are proud to provide training and transition support to connect them with careers in modern manufacturing.”

-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 more than 12.2 million men and women, contributes $2.35 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and has the largest economic multiplier of any major sector and accounts for 62% 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. – 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons and Manufacturing Institute Executive Director Carolyn Lee released the following statements on the announcement of Eric Burkland’s retirement as president of The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association after leading the association for 31 years and Vice President and Managing Director Ryan Augsburger’s promotion to lead the association as president beginning in 2021.

“Over the past three decades, Eric Burkland has been an indispensable partner in advancing manufacturing in the United States and the values that make America exceptional: free enterprise, competitiveness, individual liberty and equal opportunity,” said Timmons. “He is one of the strongest association leaders—and advocates—that manufacturers in Ohio and America will ever know. His retirement leaves giant shoes to fill, but there is no doubt Ryan Augsburger will follow in Eric’s footsteps and take the OMA to new heights.

“Eric’s leadership and ingenuity at the helm at OMA have been critical in achieving historic results for manufacturers. Since 1989, he has been instrumental in shaping consequential, once-in-a-generation policy changes that bolstered our industry and made Ohio—my home state—a better place in which to live and work. In the midst of the present crisis, he helped spearhead The Ohio Manufacturing Alliance to Fight COVID-19, uniting manufacturers and other essential businesses to manage the demand for personal protective equipment and save lives.

“At the national level, his influence and leadership are profound. His relentless drive for results, not to mention his loyalty to and appreciation for the men and women who make things in America, is inspirational. Those who served with him on the 51�Թ��� of Directors and the Conference of State Manufacturers Associations valued Eric’s political savvy, generosity of spirit and ability to bring people together—forging important consensus and extending the strength of the manufacturing army. And there is no doubt that relationships he helped build among the 51�Թ��� and state manufacturing associations through the years empowered us all to be more effective in navigating the pandemic.

“It has been one of the great privileges of my time at the 51�Թ��� to have served alongside Eric—and to have started a lifelong friendship with Christy and him. I came to quickly admire Eric’s judgment, and I still turn to my fellow Buckeye for trusted guidance and wise counsel. But nothing draws more admiration than his ability to be a skilled and thoughtful leader while showing a steadfast commitment to family. He leaves a legacy of not only incredible achievement but also an enduring impact on his peers, his colleagues, his mentees and the association and industry he so capably served.

“As a longtime member of the OMA’s staff leadership, Ryan Augsburger is well-equipped to carry his legacy forward. He has been integral to OMA’s success, and he’ll bring to his new role the deep industry knowledge, principled advocacy and keen intellect that have already earned him a formidable reputation among policymakers in Columbus and across the state. I look forward to working with Ryan—and continuing to work with Eric in his next chapter—to strengthen our industry and lift up more Americans in the months and years ahead.”

Lee added, “Eric Burkland set a best-in-class example of association leadership in addressing the skills gap in modern manufacturing. He has been a key partner in accelerating efforts to recruit and educate the next generation and connect more people, including veterans and women, with modern manufacturing careers. He’s been on the cutting edge of working to expand apprenticeships and developing programs to improve the perception of the industry, including through initiatives such as ‘Making Ohio’ and with his support of our ‘Creators Wanted’ campaign to build the future workforce. And he’s continued to be a strong ally in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion so that we make progress in closing the opportunity gap in Ohio and in America. In this work, and in the future challenges ahead, we are fortunate that Eric will continue to serve manufacturing and lead OMA’s workforce development efforts.”

-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 more than 12.2 million men and women, contributes $2.35 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and has the largest economic multiplier of any major sector and accounts for 62% 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

Amid rising caseloads of COVID-19, we will likely see increasing efforts to shut down businesses. But given how crucial manufacturing is to fighting the virus and maintaining our economy, the 51�Թ��� is working to ensure that manufacturers can keep operating and that the North American supply chain will remain robust.

Why it matters: Manufacturers in the United States are providing frontline health care workers with the resources they need to protect and save lives—and providing daily essentials to citizens across North America. Suppliers in Mexico are key to that effort. A shutdown of facilities in either country could damage not only the ongoing economic recovery, but also the supply chain for critical goods as well as undermine the global response to COVID-19.��

A stronger connection: With the ratification of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement, the relationship between North American countries is more important than ever. Each day last year, $2.3 billion worth of manufactured goods crossed the U.S.–Mexican–Canadian borders. And today, Mexico and Canada purchase more from the U.S. than our next 11 trading partners combined.

Past is precedent: Back in the spring, in the midst of nationwide shutdowns in Mexico, the 51�Թ��� sent a letter to President Andrés Manuel��López Obrador from 326 manufacturing executives. It urged Mexico to recognize and reciprocate the guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency—which designated manufacturing as essential and critical.

• Thanks to the 51�Թ���’s efforts, Mexico designated manufacturing sectors as essential, including the automotive, aerospace, mining and construction sectors, and allowed them to reopen.
• Then, when the Mexican government pushed back the planned reopening date for a number of manufacturing sectors from May 18 to June 1, the 51�Թ��� immediately stepped in. Just 24 hours later, Mexico’s Ministry of Health reversed course to allow these sectors to restart operations before June 1 if health security protocol processes had been established and approved before that date.

What we’re doing now: The 51�Թ��� has remained in contact with leaders and health officials across North America to ensure that manufacturers continue to have the tools and support they need to stay open and produce essential goods for our citizens.

The last word: “Manufacturers across North America are central to critical infrastructure industries and essential services,” said 51�Թ��� Senior Director of International Economic Affairs Ken Monahan. “We are committed to delivering the products and services that make it possible for all of our countries to respond to COVID-19 and deliver a stronger, more prosperous future.”

Washington, D.C. – Following President-elect Joe Biden’s announcement of Jeff Zients to lead the Biden administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons released this statement:

“Jeff Zients is exactly the right choice to help lead the next administration’s COVID-19 response. The 51�Թ��� always enjoyed a strong and productive relationship with Jeff in his previous role, and he is the right person for this job. He is well suited for addressing both the economic and public health challenges we face. Manufacturers can always count on him to be responsive and candid, and you can’t overstate how valuable it is to have that open channel of communication—especially now that his new role will involve helping to lead America out of this ongoing crisis.

“Manufacturers are encouraged that alongside Jeff will be experienced medical experts to effectively communicate and implement the policies needed to move our country forward. Throughout the pandemic, manufacturers have stepped up to provide leadership for our country—from encouraging smart health practices to producing personal protective equipment and developing vaccines. We are committed to continuing that leadership until we defeat COVID-19, and we are ready to work closely with Jeff, and the rest of the incoming administration, to achieve a strong economic recovery and American renewal.”

-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 more than 12.2 million men and women, contributes $2.35 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and has the largest economic multiplier of any major sector and accounts for 62% 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. – Following President-elect Joe Biden’s announcement of former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen to be his nominee for Secretary of the Treasury, 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons released this statement:

“Janet Yellen possesses extraordinary expertise and sterling credentials to serve as U.S. Treasury Secretary. Her nomination is, of course, historic as she will be the first woman to serve as Secretary. 51�Թ��� leadership met twice with Chair Yellen during her time leading the Federal Reserve. We were struck by, and appreciative of, how focused she was on American workers and the success of the manufacturing sector. Our conversations with her were refreshingly never one-way as she listened intently to the perspectives of America’s frontline job creators and asked probative questions on how Federal Reserve policies impacted our ability to invest, hire and strengthen our communities. We look forward to a similar productive relationship in working with the future Secretary as we continue to seek clarity on additional stimulus and economic needs for the sector’s recovery.”

-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 more than 12.2 million men and women, contributes $2.35��trillion to the U.S. economy annually and has the largest economic multiplier of any major sector and accounts for 62% 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. – Following President-elect Joe Biden’s announcement of key Cabinet nominees and members of his national security and foreign policy team, 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement:

“President-elect Biden has chosen a group of steady and capable hands to lead American diplomacy. Tony Blinken’s considerable experience and his strong commitment to America’s highest ideals will make him a welcome presence on the world stage. He understands that our nation is strongest when engaged globally and acting as a beacon for democracy and freedom.

“In a critical moment for U.S. immigration policy, Alejandro Mayorkas’s history-making nomination is a welcome announcement, and we look forward to working with the Department of Homeland Security under his leadership. We are firmly committed to comprehensive immigration reform, as outlined in our ‘’ plan, which offers solutions to protect Dreamers, maintain critical visa programs and smartly secure our borders.”

Manufacturers also congratulate additional individuals chosen to serve in a Biden–Harris administration:

• Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence
• Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
• Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor
• John Kerry, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate

Timmons added, “Every day, manufacturers are working to rebuild our economy and bring about American renewal. We look forward to strengthening our working relationship with these departments as we overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, improve national security, promote American values around the world and strengthen our economic recovery here at home.”

-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 more than 12.2 million men and women, contributes $2.35 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and has the largest economic multiplier of any major sector and accounts for 62% 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