Mike Michaud: “I rise in support of the Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act because this legislation will take some small…”

“I rise in support of the Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act because this legislation will take some small steps to help strengthen manufacturing technology and education. It will help small and medium-sized manufacturing in Maine by authorizing $2.1 billion for various activities intended to improve the competitiveness of our businesses. Maine's manufacturing economy has been hard hit in recent years. Since the passage of NAFTA, Maine has lost over 24,000 manufacturing jobs. Job loss is all too familiar to too many Mainers. During my first term in office after I was sworn in as a Member of Congress, I learned that the mill where I worked for over 28 years was closing its doors. It is the mill my father worked at for 43 years, my grandfather for 40 years, as did a lot of friends and neighbors. The region was devastated. It is time to turn this economy around for all the mills all across the country. As a member of the House Manufacturing Task Force and Manufacturing Caucus, I have been working hard to promote Federal opportunities for businesses and nonprofit centers. I am also a strong supporter of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. I am glad to see that MEP gets some funding in this bill even though they deserve more after years of proposed cuts by this administration. Madam Chairman, the fact is that this should only be a start.…”