Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) issued the following statement in celebration of National Manufacturing Day:
“Manufacturing is the heart and soul of who we are in Michigan and continues to be the backbone of the American economy. The hard-working men and women in manufacturing have helped transform this country. Manufacturers in the US perform more than three quarters of all private-sector research and development in the nation, more than any other sector. From Henry Ford pioneering the Model T in 1908 to present-day autonomous vehicle testing in the heart of southeast Michigan, our state has remained in the driver’s seat of innovation for over a century.
“Today, as we honor the men and women of the American manufacturing sector, we recommit ourselves to ensuring that workers are equipped with the tools they need to succeed today and tomorrow. This means closing the skills gap through technological education and keeping our workforce strong; raising the minimum wage and strengthening collective bargaining; and most importantly, working together – Democrats and Republicans – to renegotiate trade deals that pose a threat to jobs, wages, and the worker protections that labor fought tirelessly for. These critical measures ensure that the United States remains at the helm of the global economy.”
