Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I appreciate Senator Blunt yielding. I appreciate the opportunity to engage in this colloquy with the Senator from Missouri as well as the Senator from Delaware, both of whom have been leaders in manufacturing in Missouri and in Delaware. It is pretty clear what these public-private hubs can do in terms of a multiplier effect. When we look at manufacturing history in this country--and of course I will use an illustration in my State, as I understand my State better than I do any other--when Akron was the leading tire manufacturer and was sort of the center for tire manufacturing along the Ohio turnpike in northeast Ohio; to Toledo, where glass manufacturing was prominent and prevalent for decades; to autos in Cleveland; to steel; and then to rubber in Akron, we can see that once we have an innovative focus, then other kinds of manufacturing come out of that. As the tire industry declined over the decades, Akron is now one of the leaders in polymer. Toledo, which was a leader in glass manufacturing--plate glass for cars, bottles, and a lot of other kinds of glassware--has become a solar center. So the legislation Senator Blunt and I have come up with will help American workers and American business have the drive and the creative thinking and the determination to innovate ahead of the rest of the world. Before turning to Senator Coons, I wish to tell a quick story that tells me why it is so important that manufacturing take place here.…”