SEMI adds its voice to that of IPC-Association Connecting Electronics Industries in praising passage of the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation (RAMI) Act.
“SEMI members produce sophisticated and advanced equipment, materials and technology for the most complex manufacturing facilities around the world,” said SEMI president and CEO, Denny McGuirk. “That’s why we are so pleased to see bipartisan legislation signed into law that will support industry development and jobs in the U.S.”
John Mitchell, president and CEO of IPC, said, “On behalf of IPC and an estimated 800,000 people working in our 2,200 U.S. member companies, I applaud Congress for coming together in a bipartisan manner to pass this forward-thinking legislation. IPC thanks the House and Senate sponsors for working in concert with congressional leadership and appropriators proving that the United States can still tackle the nation’s long-term challenges, including technology innovation, economic competitiveness and job growth.”
The bill was passed by the House in September. Sponsored by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Representatives Tom Reed (R-NY) and Joe Kennedy (D-MA), RAMI directs the Secretary of Commerce to support the establishment of private-public partnerships—or institutes—dedicated to improving U.S. competitiveness in manufacturing. Each institute will focus on a specific manufacturing process, technology, or methodology and must be self-sustaining within seven years. The bill takes a technology-neutral approach and does not prescribe specific processes or methodologies, but each institute must become self-sustaining within seven years.
Industry, universities, community colleges, and federal agencies can all participate.
Senator Brown’s office reports that using the model under RAMI, the administration has already announced two institutes. First is the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute (ALMMII), which will establish a unique public-private partnership jointly led by The Ohio State University, the University of Michigan, and the Columbus-based Edison Welding Institute (EWI). The project is projected to create more than 10,000 jobs in the next five years. The second, a National Network of Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) pilot, is Youngstown’s “America Makes,” formerly the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII).
“This bill focuses our nation’s strengths toward a common goal: revitalization of American manufacturing and innovation,” Senator Brown said. “When American manufacturing moves to other countries, we don’t just lose production — we lose innovation. A Network for Manufacturing Innovation would foster public-private partnerships that give small businesses, industry leaders, and research institutions the tools they need to compete on a global scale. These regional, industry-led hubs will leverage local expertise and will create thousands of high-paying, high-tech manufacturing jobs for American workers. We’ve seen it work in Youngstown, now it’s time to advance this effort nationwide.”
“Our bill is about ensuring America’s future as a world leader in advanced manufacturing by fostering two things: innovation and jobs,” said Representative Reed. “We are creating high-tech, high-paying manufacturing jobs not just for people today but for their children and for their children’s children—so that generations of Americans far into the future will have opportunities to create and innovate here at home.”
RAMI was included in the Omnibus budget legislation that passed the Senate Saturday night. The bill is now headed to the President’s desk.
