Input Stories

The NAM State of Manufacturing Tour touched down in Houston yesterday, visiting Schneider Electric and Port Houston to underscore an important message: abundant, affordable energy and modern infrastructure are essential to a competitive manufacturing sector.

On the ground: NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons, Executive Vice President Erin Streeter and other NAM leaders began the day at global energy technology leader Schneider Electric—an official tour sponsor alongside NTT DATA—for a visit to its newly opened 10,500 square foot Innovation Center, one of the world’s largest energy innovation hubs.

• The day concluded with a tour of Port Houston’s Bayport Container Terminal, which demonstrates how modern trade infrastructure underpins U.S. domestic production and global leadership. Port officials explained the importance of the Port’s role as a global logistics hub, fueling domestic production and reinforcing America’s global competitiveness.

What they’re saying: “Schneider Electric is a pioneer and a powerhouse for innovation and for the manufacturing sector. You cannot talk about the state of manufacturing in the United States without talking about the innovation and leadership right here at Schneider. And at Port Houston’s Bayport Terminal, we saw why modern infrastructure is critical to moving American-made goods quickly and efficiently,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons.

• “Hosting the NAM and supporting its U.S. tour reflects our shared commitment to advancing energy technology innovations in this country,” said Andre Marino, Schneider Electric senior vice president, Industrial Automation North America.
• “We are honored to join the National Association of Manufacturers and our regional partners in highlighting Houston’s pivotal role in America’s supply chain,” said Port Houston CEO Charlie Jenkins. “Our commitment to investing in resilient infrastructure ensures the Houston Ship Channel remains a gateway for innovation, job creation and global trade.”

The last word: “If we want to lead the world in manufacturing, AI and advanced technologies, we need an all-of-the-above energy strategy that keeps prices affordable, strengthens our grid and accelerates permitting reform and we must invest in 21st  century infrastructure—from roads and bridges to ports, rail and waterways—so that manufacturers can make things right here and move them everywhere. When Washington delivers smart energy policy and modern infrastructure, we unlock the greatest manufacturing era in our nation’s history,” said Timmons.

NAM in the news: Business North Carolina highlighted Ketchie, where the tour stopped while in Charlotte, North Carolina. Timmons and Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry President and CEO Danny Seiden wrote an op-ed for the Phoenix Business Journal (subscription) to spotlight the tour’s stop in Phoenix, Arizona, today. Timmons and Seiden also appeared on The Mike Broomhead Show.

Last stop: Phoenix will serve as the tour’s final stop, where NAM leaders will drive home the urgency of permitting reform. To learn more about the tour and the NAM’s mission, visit https://nam.org/stateofmfg/.