Washington Examiner Spotlights Rep. Kelly’s “Made in America” Manufacturing Bill

Bipartisan “Invent and Manufacture in America Act” encourages businesses to conduct entire production process domestically

WASHINGTON — The Washington Examiner has published a special profile on legislation recently introduced by U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA). The bill, the Invent and Manufacture in America Act (H.R. 3068), was featured in the “Good Bill Hunting” section of this week’s issue. President Donald Trump has declared this week to be “Made in America Week.”

Highlights from the article:

A bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers is proposing a bill that would incentivize and boost American manufacturing, in addition to research and development, as the Trump administration looks to keep a promise from the presidential campaign.

Reps. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., and Ron Kind, D-Wis., with Sens. Chris Coons, D-Del., and Pat Roberts, R-Kan., have introduced the Invent and Manufacture in America Act, a bill that would give a tax credit to companies that not only conduct research and development, but also manufacture products resulting from that R&D as well.

Kelly argues that incentivizing work is one of the main drivers of entrepreneurial success and would be a boon to a U.S. manufacturing sector that has struggled to keep up in recent years. Since 2001, the U.S. has lost more than five million manufacturing jobs while only 1 in 10 Americans work in manufacturing, down from 1 in 4 during the 1960s, when U.S. manufacturing hit its peak.

"I'm from the private sector," Kelly said. "What we've found that works best: If you want to do something, you usually incentivize any good behavior. So, we're looking at the loss of jobs we've had — manufacturing jobs, the number of manufacturing plants have closed, and when you ask them why is it that you've closed ... why did you choose to actually assemble it someplace else, it's usually because of a more favorable tax situation.

"Most of the stuff since I've been in office I've looked at when we've talked to people as to why they're leaving, it's because they feel that the policies that have come forward make it harder for them to be profitable and harder to exist," he said.

Kelly said that Erie, which he represents as part of the Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District, has lost roughly 1/3 of its manufacturing jobs in recent years, most of which have left the country altogether.

…

"I think it's going to build as more people see it," Kelly said. "Between Ron Kind and myself — we both sit on Ways and Means [Committee]. We both come from very similar districts. ... Our main objective for both of us is to get our constituents back to work. I really don't know how they're registered, or how they vote, but know they're very disappointed in the fact that they've been left out in this recovery."

The Erie Republican says he expects the legislation to move quickly through the House and, ultimately, through the Senate. At the latest, he expects the bill to pass the House by the end of September and plans to speak more with the administration in the coming weeks.

###