There will be no Capital Briefing next week. The next edition of Capital Briefing will be Friday, August 16.
Manufacturers Gear Up for August Recess Action.
Members of Congress are never more accessible to manufacturers than during the August recess when they leave Washington behind for their home districts. The recess begins August 5, and the NAM encourages manufacturers to use this time so that lawmakers return to Capitol Hill in September with an understanding of the NAM's
Growth Agenda
and the importance of manufacturing's role in the economy.
When manufacturers engage with lawmakers, it is important to highlight specific policy issues, such as more robust trade policies and agreements, which will strengthen America's manufacturing base. The NAM's
trade toolkit
provides a one-stop web portal that showcases stories and information on the importance of trade to manufacturing and provides tools to help manufacturers communicate internally and in the community.
"Manufacturers need to help their employees, suppliers and local communities see more of the opportunities of the global marketplace and the need for manufacturers to reach new customers outside our borders to grow manufacturing in the United States," said NAM Vice President of International Economic Affairs Linda Dempsey. "By doing so, we will build support for Washington to pursue policies that will do more to open markets and level the playing field to connect our manufacturers with the 95 percent of consumers that live outside U.S. borders." The NAM is also running
display ads
on export controls at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to engage policymakers traveling to and from Washington and recently wrapped up two weeks of
digital ads
on fair trade with India.
In addition to trade, immigration reform also remains a top priority heading into the August recess. Manufacturers can use this time to
share their personal stories
about the need for immigration reform with lawmakers as they did during the
NAM's 2013
Manufacturing Summit
. On July 30, NAM Director of Human Resources Policy Christine Scullion and the
inSPIRE STEM USA (Supporting Productive Immigration Reform & Education) Coalition
briefed congressional staffers about the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education to reforming our nation's broken immigration system. Earlier in July, the NAM hosted a
"Shopfloor" immigration reform briefing
for the House, cohosted by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL). Speaking at the event were manufacturing representatives from Caterpillar, Cargill and Logan's Sausage. Read our
Member Focus
Q&A with Chairman Goodlatte
here
.
Any comprehensive immigration reform legislation must invest in STEM education.
The Senate-passed bill
, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744), offers positive solutions for STEM investment, and manufacturers need the same from House legislation. The NAM joined more than 400 leading U.S. business and advocacy organizations
in a letter
sent July 30 urging House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to take action on immigration reform.
Face-to-face interaction with lawmakers is perhaps the most useful means to convey manufacturing's priorities. The NAM's
Plant Tour Guide
outlines best practices for bringing members of Congress into manufacturing facilities. The guide includes a helpful checklist for setting up the plant tour, planning for the media, organizing the facility visit, producing displays and literature, preparing for guest arrival, conducting the tour and following up with your lawmaker and congressional staff after the event. "Manufacturing plant visits offer an opportunity to build lasting relationships with members of Congress and their staff," said NAM Vice President of Public Affairs Tiffany Adams. "They provide opportunities for lawmakers to meet with their constituents, hear the success stories and the struggles that manufacturers face and witness how their policies work in real life."
Manufacturers can also call attention to the issues that matter to them in other ways this month. Participating in town hall and district meetings that members of Congress host across the country provides an opportunity for direct communication. District events such as town hall meetings often underscore how manufacturers are the cornerstones of their communities. Manufacturers interested in more information about non-NAM district events may contact NAM Director of Public Affairs and Grassroots Advocacy
Meredith Nethercutt
.
The NAM, meanwhile, is partnering with member companies to bring representatives and senators into manufacturing facilities for congressional dialogues in August. The congressional dialogue initiative allows members of Congress to connect directly with their constituents on-site on issues that affect the manufacturing community. Manufacturers interested in hosting congressional dialogues may contact NAM External Relations Manager
Leann Paradise
. The dialogues will continue throughout the year.
The August recess is the perfect opportunity to give lawmakers a window into the jobs, resources and production lines critical to making things in the United States. We hope you will take time this month to join manufacturers in advocating for critical pro-growth policies.
Details:
Leann Paradise
, (202) 637-3049 and
Meredith Nethercutt
, (202) 637-3121.
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