NEMWI and AMCC To Co-Host Briefing on Sustainable Manufacturing On Thursday, June 23, at 2:00 P.M.
The Northeast-Midwest Institute and its partner the American Manufacturing Communities Collaborative (AMCC), in conjunction with the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC), will host a policy briefing on Sustainable Manufacturing on Thursday, June 23, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. (EDT).
The briefing is an opportunity to learn from national experts about what sustainable manufacturing means and how it can keep America at the forefront of innovation and lead the way to address climate change and other threats. The briefing also will feature regional leaders illustrating what sustainable manufacturing means in different parts of the country.
The agenda and participants in the briefing include:
2:00-2:10 p.m.: Introduction.
2:10-2:30 p.m.: Framing -- What Is Sustainable Manufacturing and Why Is It Important?:
Matt Bogoshian, Executive Director AMCC, former U.S. EPA.
Pete Langlois, Senior Policy Counsel, Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Program Manager, U.S. Department of Energy.
Kimberley Gibson, Ecosystem Director, America Makes.
With support from a grant by the Economic Development Administration to CREC, AMCC gathered stakeholders on March 30 to focus on one of the key components of sustainable manufacturing: the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in manufacturing ownership and its workforce. The June 23 briefing is the second briefing in this series, focusing on sustainable manufacturing.
The U.S. House of Representatives last week passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) by a bipartisan 384-37 vote. WRDA, which Congress typically passes every two years, authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) projects and programs that are essential in managing the nation’s coastal lands. The bill, which has bipartisan support, in part does the following:
Authorizes 16 pending Corps Chief’s Reports;
Authorizes 72 feasibility studies for water resources development projects; and
Directs the Corps to expedite the completion of 15 feasibility studies currently underway, including the Great Lakes Resiliency Study.
WRDA also revises the federal cost share for the Brandon Road Lock and Dam project from 80% federal to 90% federal, which will help expedite the completion of the project. This critical project will help prevent invasive carp and other invasive species from entering the Great Lakes.
WRDA also seeks to address climate change and build greater resiliency in coastal communities by supporting the Corps’ work to:
Rebuild and maintain critical navigation jetties and breakwaters to dimensions necessary to address challenges posed by climate change;
Study the impacts of coastal storms on back bay and riverine flooding as part of an ongoing coastal storm risk reduction project study;
Renew support for water resources projects that promote the beneficial reuse of sediment by establishing a strategic plan for reusing clean dredged materials for ecosystem restoration or storm damage reduction projects;
Promote consideration of the value of preserving open space, critical habitat, and recreational areas in water resources development projects; and
Investigate opportunities to restore natural floodplains and to identify antiquated dams for rehabilitation or removal.
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works marked up its version of WRDA earlier this month, but the bill has yet to be considered by the full Senate.
U.S. House To Consider Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA)
The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled this week to take up the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) under a structured rule. RAWA, which was introduced by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI), is a bipartisan conservation bill that promotes and enhances America’s conservation efforts and ensures the long-term health of fish and wildlife throughout the country. The bill dedicates nearly $1.4 billion in support to the Wildlife Conservation Restoration Program for proactive efforts led by the states, territories, and Tribal nations to prevent vulnerable wildlife from becoming endangered. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved the Senate version of the bill in April, but the full Senate has yet to take up RAWA.
U.S. House Appropriations Committee Announces Appropriations Markup Schedule
After the U.S. House of Representatives approved a deeming resolution, which sets the House discretionary spending caps for FY 2023 at $1.6 trillion, the House Appropriations Committee has released the full schedule for markups for each of the twelve individual appropriations bills for FY 2023. The House topline number largely reflects President Biden's FY 2023 budget request. The House Appropriations Committee has yet to reveal its 302(b) allocation numbers, which sets the topline number for each individual appropriations bill.
Key Markup dates include:
Tuesday, June 21:
Subcommittee Markups:
4:00 p.m.:
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.
5:30 p.m.:
Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies.
Wednesday, June 22:
Subcommittee Markups:
5:00 p.m.:
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.
6:30 p.m.:
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies.
Thursday, June 23:
Subcommittee Markups:
4:00 p.m.:
Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.
Tuesday, June 28:
Full Committee Markups:
10:00 a.m.:
Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies.
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies.
Wednesday, June 29
Full Committee Markups:
10:00 a.m.:
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.
Thursday, June 30
Full Committee Markups:
10:00 a.m.:
Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.
NEMWI and the House Manufacturing Caucus Co-Host Briefing on Tactics To Strengthen the American Manufacturing Workforce
A briefing on National and Regional Tactics to Strengthen the American Manufacturing Workforce on June 7 explored collaboration between industry, government, and labor to strengthen the nation's industrial manufacturing workforce. The briefing was co-hosted by the Northeast-Midwest Institute (NEMWI), the House Manufacturing Caucus (HMC), and the American Manufacturing Communities Collaborative (AMCC).
The briefing included opening remarks by Dr. Michael Goff, President of the Northeast-Midwest Institute; Matt Bogoshian, Executive Director of the AMCC; and Andrew Stettner, Senior Fellow at the Century Foundation.
The panel included:
Jeannine LaPrad, Managing Director, Policy & Research, National Skills Coalition.
Ron Williams, Director, Center for Strategic Entrepreneurship, Coppin State University.
Zoe Lipman, Industrial Union Council, AFL-CIO.
Buckley Brinkman, Executive Director/CEO, Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing & Productivity.
Michael Mullins, Director, NC Defense Industry Diversification Initiative, Industry Expansion Solutions, NC State University.
The briefing focused on a manufacturing labor shortage, difficulties in recruiting the next generation of workers in the industry, and the need to include a diverse set of voices in this effort. This briefing was a continuation of a briefing held in April concerning a bottom-up model to encourage regional leaders to develop more private-public partnerships and design interventions that lead to positive outcomes in the industry. The briefing was one in a series designed to address each of the “Big 6” Manufacturing Community Ecosystem Areas.
Ms. LaPrad highlighted the efforts of the National Skills Coalition, which has brought together panels that include manufacturers and other groups as they try to solve these issues. She also emphasized the need to support and encourage automation where necessary while also doubling down on workforce investment. This includes the need to coordinate various different community efforts to boost interest in manufacturing careers and workforce development.
Mr. Williams addressed the role of diversity in manufacturing workforce development. He emphasized the need to include underrepresented groups like women and people of color in the traditionally white and male manufacturing sector, along with a change in culture to achieve sustainable gains. He also highlighted the role HBCUs could play in workforce development, new approaches to apprenticeships and vocational education, and building institutional trust.
Ms. Lipman addressed more big-picture challenges facing the manufacturing sector, along with the critical role manufacturing plays in the economy. She discussed declining job quality, policies that lead to offshoring, and a decline in union participation. She emphasized that these issues can be offset by implementing a coordinated manufacturing strategy.
Mr. Brinkman focused on issues particular to Wisconsin, with an emphasis on the “body gap”. He discussed the manufacturing industry’s workforce needs, and how they may not be met in the coming decades. In order to address this, he emphasized the need to focus on strategies that increase productivity.
Mr. Mullins focused on issues particular to North Carolina, specifically its Defense Industry Diversification Initiative. He addressed the need to attract new members of the workforce by providing things like transportation, childcare, flexible schedules, pathways to higher positions, and a renewed focus on company culture. He also discussed hiring a more diverse workforce.
A recording of the briefing is available for download here.
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