Equipment Manufacturers Call on Congress to Act on Voter Demands

Americans Want Washington to Deliver a Meaningful Manufacturing Strategy

MILWAUKEE, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congress prepares to return to Washington in a few weeks, and voters across America, regardless of political party affiliation, have one issue as their top priority -- improving the economy. A number of recent surveys show that American voters want to restore the unlimited potential of manufacturing jobs in America as a sure way to lift stagnant unemployment numbers.  

"When Congress returns in September, it cannot merely tinker around the edges of policies that will impact manufacturing jobs and the future of America's economy," said Dennis Slater, president of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). "Two very direct ways to create jobs: meaningful funding of needed infrastructure improvements across the nation and export-friendly policies that spur trade."

AEM recently released results of a non-partisan nationwide voter survey that showed nearly 9 out of 10 voters agree that the nation needs to "dramatically increase manufacturing jobs" so our economy can compete with other countries. The survey asked voter attitudes on the economy, manufacturing jobs and infrastructure.

A bipartisan poll by Mark Mellman and Ayres McHenry shows two-thirds of Democrats, Independents and Republicans agree that "high-tech and services" industries cannot replace manufacturing in a strong U.S. economy. A top concern among independent voters in this April poll is that "we have lost too many manufacturing jobs in this country."

Voters understand the urgent need for job creation. They know state and local governments face serious budget troubles, and they watch in frustration as the national debt rises. Another poll released this month by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research found that "60 percent of those surveyed responded positively to an economic message that said that 'we have a budget deficit, but … we also have a massive public investment deficit' that requires us to 'rebuild the infrastructure that is vital to our economy' and to the economic growth that will 'generate revenues to help pay down the budget deficit.'"

Recent reports state America borrows $2 billion per day to cover trade deficits. Yet, American farmers and manufacturers can create more jobs in the U.S. by exporting their products to new markets around the world, Slater noted. "Congress needs to pass the pending free trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia, and build the modern infrastructure necessary to get our goods to market faster than our competitors," he said.

"Poll after poll shows that American voters want the federal government to focus on creating a national manufacturing strategy that really drives job creation and a revival of manufacturing," stated Slater. "We hope Speaker Pelosi and her colleagues heed this call when they return to work in September."

About the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) - www.aem.org

AEM is the North American-based international trade group providing innovative business development resources to advance the off-road equipment manufacturing industry in the global marketplace. AEM membership comprises more than 800 companies and 200-plus product lines in the agriculture, construction, forestry, mining and utility sectors worldwide. AEM is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with offices in the capitals of Washington, D.C., Ottawa, Beijing and a European presence in Brussels.

SOURCE Association of Equipment Manufacturers