Rep. Fattah Cites Good News for Jobs, Manufacturing in Philadelphia and the Nation

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), a leading advocate on the House Appropriations Committee for innovation in American manufacturing, hailed today's brightening employment picture as the latest indicator that the economy is on the rebound.

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"The good news on jobs is no fluke. We have just experienced the 13th straight month of private job growth, and it's the strongest two-month jump in private employment since 2006," Fattah said. "The Obama Administration's economic policies are working, even as we continue efforts to get more Americans back to work more quickly.

"American manufacturing remains Number One in the world, and we can stay Number One as the Obama Administration continues to support innovation and new technology," Fattah said. "That improvement is evident in Philadelphia in a number of small and medium size businesses as well as nationally, where recovery efforts in the auto industry have generated big returns."

Fattah cited positive indicators in his home town, where manufacturing production reached a 27-year high in March, based on new orders, according to a report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

Fattah got a close-up at innovation on the factory in his Philadelphia district on March 21 when he toured CoverSports USA at 5000 Paschall Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia.

President Ronald B. Nissenbaum, part of a three-generation family ownership team, demonstrated for the Congressman new equipment that allows it to reclaim business from Asian factories. CoverSports, with 77 employees, manufactures large tarps and specialized coverings for athletic fields including major league baseball stadiums -- where some of its products will be visible to fans on this Opening Day weekend.

"Factories like CoverSports are homegrown, under the radar success stories," the Congressman said. "They are the face of tomorrow's American manufacturing base. We need to employ every tool at our disposal, at the Commerce Department, in universities, laboratories and industry incubators, to stay at the top of a highly competitive global economy."

Fattah, as Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and related agencies, he has been pushing for resources of Commerce Department efforts to encourage and promote innovation.

In recognition of his leadership, Fattah has been invited to carry his message to over 700 leading U.S. manufacturers and industry experts next month when he addresses the Manufacturing Innovations 2011 Conference at Orlando Florida on May 15. The conference theme is "Seizing Tomorrow's Opportunities Today."

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah