The President signed H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, on March 23 and H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation ... More »

Health Care Legislation
 March 26, 2010
The House’s passage Sunday of health care legislation will add more burdens to manufacturers in the United States, increasing costs and making it more difficult for our companies to offer generous health benefits. It is a disappointing outcome, but ... More »

EPA GHG tailoring rule moving too fast
 Feb. 17, 2010
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is rushing to put two key emissions regulations in place by the end of March 2010. These regulations include greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from cars and trucks and a first-time “tailoring rule” on emissions ... More »

US-EPA proposes more severe smog standard
 Jan. 22, 2010
The US-EPA on January 7 proposed a more severe ozone standard than the eight-hour, 75 parts per million (ppm) standard issued by the agency in 2008 under the Bush Administration. The stricter standard proposes to reduce smog levels to between 0.060 ... More »

NAM Chief Economist statement on economic indicators: Sees early signs of recovery
 Oct. 16, 2009
In response to today's report by the Federal Reserve on manufacturing output, National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Chief Economist David Huether issued the following statement:

The Federal Reserve reported today that manufacturing ... More »

July 14 Deadline: Dept of Energy Stimulus Funding
 July 2, 2009
The Industrial Technologies Program under the U.S. Department of Energy is providing $160 million to stimulate manufacturing and construction jobs, markets for green construction and technologies that increase national security. The program seeks ... More »

North American manufacturing workforce management practices
 May. 8, 2009
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is conducting a survey to capture critical information regarding North American manufacturing workforce management practices as they relate to financial and operational success and produce a summary of ... More »

NAM commends Bush decision to facilitate loans to auto companies -- Engler Says Stability Of Auto Industry Is Key To Economic Recovery
 Jan. 9, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- John Engler, President and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) issued the following statement in response to President Bush’s decision today to extend federal loans to the domestic automakers:

I ... More »

Battle for the U.S. Senate
 Oct. 29, 2008
Over the last six weeks, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has looked at the significant contests that will determine the makeup of the U.S. Senate in the 111th Congress. With eight Democratic candidates currently leading in seats held ... More »

U.S. Senate passes financial rescue package that includes tax extenders
 Oct. 2, 2008
The U.S. Senate (74-25) and House of Represeantatives (More »

US EPA Announces New Ozone Standard
 March 14, 2008
On March 12, US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Steve Johnson issued a more stringent national ozone standard, lowering the current standard of 84 parts per billion (ppb) to a more stringent standard of 75 ppb. The National Association ... More »

Report: The high cost of reducing greenhouse gas emissions
 March 14, 2008
The National Association of Manufacturers and the American Council for Capitol Formation issued a report on the potential economic impacts of the Lieberman/Warner climate change proposal. The US Senate is expected to debate the legislation in June ... More »

US EPA's proposed Ozone Rule: Disputed science, devastating results
 Feb. 6, 2008
In just a matter of weeks the US EPA will be making a landmark decision that could devastate your business and local economy. An unnecessary ozone standard currently under consideration would have a $100 billion impact on America's industrial ... More »

US-EPA's Proposed Ozone Rule: Disputed Science, Devastating Results
 Dec. 12, 2007
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) announced plans this summer that may lead to a stricter ozone standard in 2008 that will have a devastating impact of more than $100 billion on America’s industrial economy.

The new ... More »

Proposed ozone rule could choke economic growth, jobs
Contact U.S. EPA today
 Sept. 20, 2007
Manufacturers have until October 9 to submit comments on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S. EPA) proposed stringent ozone standard. This rule could lead to significantly more heavy-handed environmental controls on your company - ... More »

Take Action on Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Legislation
 Aug. 16, 2007
The Senate failed to protect manufacturers and their employees from arbitrary and unreasonable Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards in recently passed legislation. The House is poised to consider this vital issue soon. The debate over ... More »

Legislation introduced that would invite frivolous lawsuits
 July 19, 2007
The Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (H.R. 2831) was introduced in June by House Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-CA). This bill would do little to address discrimination in the workplace and virtually eliminate the statute of limitations for filing ... More »

Union "card check" legislation fails
 June 28, 2007
The U.S. Senate failed this week to pass H.R. 800, the Employee Free Choice Act, by a vote of 51-48 (60 votes were needed). As a result, workers will retain their rights to private-ballot elections during union organizing drives.

This is a ... More »

NAM President John Engler supports, and advises against rolling back, Energy Policy Act of 2005
 June 6, 2007
Speaking before the House Natural Resources Committee last week, National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President John Engler sounded the warning call against backsliding on energy policies “achieved after years of diligent, informed work and ... More »

R&D Credit bill introduced
 May. 9, 2007
Congressmen Sander "Sandy" Levin (D-MI) and Dave Camp (R-MI), senior members of the House Ways and Means Committee, introduced legislation (H.R. 2138) this week to strengthen and make permanent the R&D tax credit. This NAM-supported bill received ... More »

Six utilities warn Congress that aggressive attempts to reduce greenhouses gases could ruin the economy
 March 21, 2007
On Wednesday, Al Gore made headlines for his testimony on climate change, but perhaps a more enlightening discussion occurred in the House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, where chief executives from six electric utilities warned that price ... More »

Federal Update: CNN airs manufacturing piece
 Feb. 22, 2007
CNN ran a very good piece this week titled, Manufacturing - Backbone of the Economy, on the benefits of manufacturing, the need for skilled workers and the National Association of Manufacturers' Dream It. Do It. campaign.
More »

NAM supports proposal to improve air quality & simplify permitting process
 Nov. 14, 2006
In comments submitted this week on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) New Source Review proposal, the National Association of Manufacturers urged the EPA “to continue efforts that will simplify the regulatory permitting process in a ... More »

New NAM study shows increasing structural costs for U.S. manufacturers
 Sept. 21, 2006
Three years ago, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), The Manufacturing Institute and the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI issued a groundbreaking report, How Structural Costs Imposed on U.S. Manufacturers Harm Workers and Threaten ... More »

NAM releases annual labor day report Blames national energy costs for drop in wages
 Sept. 14, 2006
The National Association of Manufacturers' (NAM) annual Labor Day Report showed that, despite manufacturing production and job increases, surging national energy costs have propelled inflation at a faster pace than worker's take-home pay, resulting ... More »

California not the only state struggling to find skilled workers
 Sept. 14, 2006
Results from the National Association of Manufacturers’ (NAM) annual Small Manufacturers Operating Survey point to a glaring problem for America’s manufacturers: a lack of qualified workers to fill highly skilled positions.

Of the 467 ... More »

R&D credit extension
 Aug. 24, 2006
As you know, continued research and development is a critical component to the leadership and competitiveness of America’s manufacturers. Unfortunately, the federal R&D Credit remains expired since December 31, 2005 and a lack of action by Congress ... More »

Manufacturing exports growing faster than imports
 Aug. 11, 2006
According to the National Association of Manufacturers, June marked the eighth consecutive month in which U.S. exports of manufactured goods grew more rapidly than U.S. imports of manufactured goods. Exports of manufactured goods were up 13 ... More »

President Bush addresses the National Association of Manufacturers
 July 27, 2006
President Bush’s comments to the National Association of Manufacturers this week evoked a strong response from more than 250 corporate and association representatives who applauded the Administration’s economic achievements and commitment to ... More »

NAM asks Congress to extend R&D tax credit
 July 12, 2006
After the U.S. Labor Department reported this week that this year’s national deficit will come in 30 percent below projections, the National Association of ... More »

Tax relief package gets signed without R&D credit
 May. 18, 2006
President Bush this week signed into law the $70 billion tax relief package (H.R. 4297) that extends the 2003 tax cuts on dividends and capital gains and contains an Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) patch enabling some 18 million people to avoid paying ... More »

Congressional negotiators remove R&D tax credit
 May. 4, 2006
Once again, congressional negotiators reportedly are near agreement on a two-prong tax relief package that will include a tax reconciliation piece (H.R. 4297) and a "tax extenders" bill. The conference report on H.R. 4297 is expected to include: a ... More »

NAM Chief Economist sees national economy gaining momentum after strong durable goods report
 May. 3, 2006
The Commerce Department reported last week that orders to U.S. factories for manufactured goods increased by 6.1 percent.

"[This report] is ... More »

Take action to get federal R&D credit renewed
 April 27, 2006
When the federal Research & Development (R&D) tax credit expired on Dec. 31, 2005, the cost of doing R&D in the U.S. increased for nearly 16,000 companies.

Congressional Republicans have been working to pass a bill, strengthening and ... More »

NAM / American Justice Partnership launches web repository for lawsuit abuse victims
 March 30, 2006
If you have been the victim of lawsuit abuse, you know the enormous toll it can take in terms of money spent on defense lawyers, time away from work, and the negative impact it can have on the way you serve your customers. But now, a new project ... More »

NAM urges ban on carbon emissions cap
 March 16, 2006
A National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) white paper response submitted this week to the U.S. Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee cautioned against taking steps that may lead to mandatory caps on carbon emissions, stating that ... More »

U.S. Senate members form "Economic Competitiveness Caucus"
 March 8, 2006
National Association of Manufacturers President John Engler issued the following editorial on the Caucus' formation:




More » More restrictive particulate matters (PM2.5) : Workshop next week  March 3, 2006 The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has scheduled concurrent workshops in San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia on March 8th for their proposed revisions to the Federal Fine Particulate Matter (PMMore » Register for "National Manufacturing Week" conference in Illinois, March 20 - 23  March 2, 2006 From March 20-23, at the Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, (just outside of Chicago) you can learn about regulatory compliance, the future of engineering & manufacturing, global competitiveness, environmental & safety compliance, and much ... More » Report shows contributions and challenges facing small and medium manufacturers in America: Performance of all U.S. Manufacturing Tied More Than Ever to the Success of SMMs  Feb. 23, 2006 A new report underscoring how small and mid-sized manufacturers (SMMs) are playing an increasingly important role in the nation’s industrial economy -- despite unprecedented challenges -- was released this week by the National Association of ... More » NAM asking all manufacturers to help bring asbestos bill to the U.S. Senate Floor  Feb. 16, 2006 The Senate Judiciary Committee on May 26 approved S. 852, the Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution (FAIR) Act, on a 13-5 vote. While not perfect, S. 852 represents the best opportunity yet to address the asbestos litigation crisis, which has ... More » Report says "five clear warning signs" point to lower economic growth: One of those signs is a declining pool of skilled workers  Feb. 1, 2006 Downward trends in U.S. manufacturing innovation pose a serious threat to America’s long-term economic growth and living standards, according to a new report released this week by the Council of Manufacturing Associations (CMA) and The Manufacturing ... More » New national EPA rules not grounded in sound science  Jan. 25, 2006 The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) this week cautioned the Environmental Protection Agency against imposing stringent, new air quality regulations that could impose significant burdens on U.S. manufacturers facing fierce international ... More » NAM advances campaign for regulatory improvement by calling for clarity and transparency  Jan. 10, 2006 The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) advanced its campaign for regulatory improvement this week by calling for clarity and transparency in regulatory implementation guidelines that significantly affect manufacturers and U.S. ... More » NAM needs videos of manufacturers for high traffic website and ipod podcasts  Nov. 8, 2005 The National Assn. of Manufacturers (NAM) is posting a video on their blog (www.blog.nam.org) of “Cool Stuff Being Made” (More » NAM members lead R&D tax credit fight before Congressional staff  Oct. 19, 2005 National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is leading the effort in Congress to make the federal research and development (R&D) tax credit permanent. Enacted in 1981, the temporary tax credit has been extended 11 times but is set to expire in ... More » National Study: High Costs Continue To Undermine Key Manufacturing Sectors  Oct. 12, 2005 A report, The Profit Squeeze for U.S. Manufacturers, released this week by the Manufacturing Institute and the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI, revealed an unprecedented fall in profits for manufacturers. Profits from 2000 to 2003 were 67.1 percent ... More » Manufacturers need to urge U.S. Senate to bring asbestos litigation reform to the floor  Sept. 15, 2005 The Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act (S. 852) represents the best opportunity yet to address the asbestos litigation crisis, which has forced more than 70 companies into bankruptcy, 60,000 Americans out of work and 8,400 companies into ... More » NAM Releases Labor Day Report: Heading Off the Looming Skills Shortage  Sept. 2, 2005 The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) released a report this week calling for concerted action to head off a looming 21st century skills shortage that is already being felt by many U.S. employers. As technology and competition ... More » NAM President Lauds CAFTA-DR and Countervailing Duties Bill Passed by Congress  July 28, 2005 The House approved CAFTA-DR (H.R. 3045) by a 217-215 margin on Wednesday July 27. CAFTA will further open the Central American market to U.S. exports. The House also passed the trade rights enforcement bill (H.R. 3283), by a 255-168 vote, and gave ... More » Final Vote on CAFTA in U.S. House of Representatives  July 22, 2005 The final vote on the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) is scheduled for next Thursday, July 28th. There are four members of the California Delegation who are still undecided. Your calls to their offices will help make sure the U.S. ... More » 15,625 U.S companies export to the six CAFTA countries  June 9, 2005 As Congress returns to Washington, a showdown looms over the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). A number of interest groups have been misrepresenting the agreement’s impact. The National Association of ... More » Asbestos legislation moves to U.S. Senate floor  May. 26, 2005 WASHINGTON, D.C. – National Association of Manufacturers President John Engler issued the following statement this week on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s reporting of a “much needed” asbestos litigation reform bill: “While there is much ... More » NAM President John Engler Says Five-Part Plan Can Give Economy $1 Trillion Boost in Five Years  May. 9, 2005 DETROIT, May 9, 2005 – Returning to his home state for a major speech at the Detroit Economic Club, former Michigan governor and National Association of Manufacturers President John Engler today called for action on a five-part plan that will reduce ... More » Al Frink Highlights NAM's Annual National Industrial Council Meeting  May. 5, 2005 Asst. Commerce Secretary for Manufacturing and Services, More » NAM President John Engler Calls CAFTA “No Brainer”  April 8, 2005 WASHINGTON, D.C., April 5, 2005 – More than 100 Board Members of the National Association of Manufacturers have joined with NAM Chairman John Luke, Chairman and CEO of MeadWestvaco Corporation, and NAM President John Engler, in signing a letter to ... More » NAM Survey Shows Exports Becoming More Important to Manufacturers  March 7, 2005 CHICAGO, Illinois – The 2005 National Manufacturing Week survey released this week shows employers continue to be upbeat about manufacturing in 2005. “This survey tells us the manufacturing recovery that gained real momentum last year will continue ... More » Manufacturing Town Hall to be Broadcast on the Net  March 4, 2005 On Tuesday March 8, at 10:00 a.m. PST (1:00 p.m. EST), there will be a Manufacturing Town Hall meeting in Chicago. It will feature Al Frink, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing and Services; Don Wainwright, Chairman of the ... More » NAM Lauds Senate Passage of Class Action Bill  Feb. 10, 2005 WASHINGTON, D.C., February 10, 2005 - Encouraged by this afternoon's Senate passage of S. 5, the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA), National Association of Manufacturers President John Engler called the bipartisan 72-26 vote "a good beginning for the ... More » Nation's Largest Industry Trade Group Leads Fight for Legal Reform in the States  Jan. 26, 2005 Washington, DC, January 26, 2005-In an effort to bolster legal reform in the states, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) today officially launched the American Justice Partnership (AJP). The partnership brings together, for the first ... More » NAM President Highlights Elements of 2005 Agenda  Jan. 12, 2005 WASHINGTON, D.C., January 12, 2005 – Emphasizing both the urgent need to end “scandalous” asbestos litigation with a trust fund-based reform bill and “this generation’s responsibility to modernize Social Security for the sake of younger workers,” ... More » U.S. Senate Passes Miscellaneous Tariff Bill  Nov. 21, 2004 In a victory for U.S. manufacturers, the Senate passed the conference report to the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act (H.R. 1047) on November 19 during the lame duck session before Congress adjourned. The House passed the conference ... More » Senator Tom Carper Seeks Common Ground in Senate to Pass Legal Reform Bills  Nov. 19, 2004 The NAM Legal Issues Policy Committee meeting on Nov. 17 was a reunion of governors, of sorts, as new NAM President – and former Michigan Governor -- John Engler and NAM members welcomed Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), also a former governor, to the ... More » NAM Calls Get-Out-The-Vote Results an ‘Impressive Victory’ for Manufacturers, Workers  Nov. 3, 2004 WASHINGTON, D.C. – With Sen. John Kerry’s concession to President Bush and final votes in congressional races boding well for a new era of pro-growth policy-making, the nation’s manufacturers are “extremely pleased with our grassroots efforts to ... More » 250 Broadcasters feature NAM Satellite feed / media tour  Oct. 22, 2004 WASHINGTON -- At least 250 broadcast stations and syndicates have aired or requested the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) b-roll of its unprecedented campaign to rally manufacturing workers to vote in 2004. NAM President and CEO ... More » NAM Says California's Congressional Delegation among least supportive of manufacturing  Oct. 20, 2004 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Despite California’s loss of more than a half-million good paying factory jobs in the last four years and the fact that roughly 1,530,000 state residents currently depend on manufacturing for their livelihoods, 14 of the state’s ... More » Landmark Business Tax Relief Bill on the Way to the White House  Oct. 11, 2004 Enactment of H.R. 4520, which repeals the extraterritorial income (ETI) regime ruled illegal by the World Trade Organization, will help end punitive tariffs imposed by the European Union on more than 1,600 U.S. exports since March 2004. The tax ... More » NAM Awards Best Voting Records in 108th Congress  Oct. 8, 2004 WASHINGTON, D.C., October 6, 2004 – Winners of the National Association of Manufacturers’ Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence in the 108th Congress were named today. Two-hundred-and-seventy-nine lawmakers were selected to receive the ... More » Former Michigan Gov. John Engler, MeadWestvaco CEO John A. Luke, Jr. To Lead Charge for U.S. Manufacturing Growth and Renewal  Oct. 1, 2004 WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 30, 2004 – The National Association of Manufacturers will elect new leadership today to champion U.S. manufacturing and advocate pro-growth policies as it mobilizes to get out the vote in November. Convening Sept. 28-30 in ... More » Prosperity Project Turns On Political Power in Nationwide GOTV Campaign  Sept. 27, 2004 It’s almost the end of the workday at Schaefer Brush Company in Waukesha, WI, but President Sheri Reichart is just getting her second wind. Following a full day of meetings in boardrooms and decision making by conference call, Reichart gathers up a ... More » NAM update archive www.nam.org