Upton bill would centralize domestic manufacturing programs in a single government website

GRAND RAPIDS — U.S. Rep. Fred Upton is among the bipartisan group of lawmakers introducing a bill aimed at remedying domestic supply chain issues.

Rep. Paul Tonko, D-New York, was joined by Upton, R-St. Joseph, and Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, in introducing the Manufacturing.gov Act in the House Tuesday, Dec. 14. An identical bill introduced by Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, and others, passed the Senate earlier this year.

The bill would create a federal website to connect manufacturers with U.S. manufacturing programs. According to a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the federal government runs 58 programs across 11 agencies.

“Now more than ever, we need to take steps today to secure our supply chain and bring manufacturing jobs back to Michigan and the United States,” Upton said in a statement. A single hub to connect manufacturers would bolster the sector, which will be key in ensuring the U.S. remains an economic superpower, he added.

Supply chain issues have plagued domestic manufacturers in recent months, as shortages of key supplies like semiconductor chips and other materials have slowed the ability for producers to keep up with demand from U.S. consumers.

More: Supply chain issues: What are they and how will shortages impact the holiday shopping season?

Demand for goods — like electronics, furniture and appliances — has ramped up since the start of the pandemic compared to spending on experiences — like hotel rooms, cruises, concert tickets and meals out. At the same time, logistical issues caused by the pandemic have prevented manufacturers from ramping up production.

“Supporting our domestic manufacturing industry will immensely benefit our economy, job growth and global competitiveness,” Tonko said. “With the COVID crisis putting added strain on the industry, it is critical that we strengthen our domestic supply chain by supporting American manufacturers.”

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

— Contact Arpan Lobo at alobo@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @arpanlobo. Become a subscriber today.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Upton, others, introduce bill to centralize U.S. manufacturing program website