Policy and Legal

Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) is fighting a looming “Tax Armageddon”—the expiration of crucial pro-manufacturing tax measures scheduled for the end of 2025. As part of its “Manufacturing Wins” campaign, the NAM recently chatted with Rep. Smith—chair of the House Ways and Means Committee’s Rural America Tax Team and a member of the committee’s Main Street Tax Team—about how he and his colleagues are working to avert the potential disaster.

Interest deductibility: One of Rep. Smith’s priorities is restoring a pro-growth standard for interest deductibility. In 2022, a new limitation took effect, setting a stricter cap on how much interest manufacturers can deduct, and thereby increasing the cost of debt financing job-creating investments.

• “Bipartisan legislation I have introduced—the American Investment in Manufacturing Act—would amend the U.S. tax code to increase the cap on deductible business interest to pre-2022 levels,” Rep. Smith told the NAM.
• “By ensuring capital-intensive industries can deduct more of the cost of interest from their taxes, we can enhance opportunities to develop new products in America, create jobs by making those products here and then sell those products around the world.”

Preserving tax reform: By restoring tax reform’s lapsed provisions—including interest deductibility—and preserving policies scheduled to expire next year, Congress can build on the success of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which “unleashed economic growth, promoted American business investment and benefitted workers,” Rep. Smith said.

• “Businesses we have heard from widely agree on the importance of keeping these policies in place and sustaining our strong growth.”

Read the full Q&A with Rep. Smith here.

The NAM recently talked to Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY) about what he and his congressional colleagues are doing to help manufacturers debt finance important projects. Below is the full text of the interview.

NAM: Rep. Morelle, Congress is facing a “Tax Armageddon” next year, as crucial pro-growth tax policies are set to expire at the end of 2025, and as you know, many have gone into effect already. What is your focus moving into next year’s debate?

Morelle: With provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 set to expire, it is imperative that Congress acts to safeguard tax policies that support and strengthen American manufacturing. My focus remains on measures that enhance our economic resilience and competitiveness for families and small businesses alike. This commitment drives my introduction of the American Investment in Manufacturing Act, which aims to restore the deductible business interest cap to pre-2022 levels, encouraging vital domestic investment while mitigating the pressures of rising interest.

NAM: As you know, prior to 2022, businesses could deduct 30% of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization—a deduction standard known as EBITDA. A change in the tax code limits the deduction to only EBIT—excluding depreciation and amortization. This presents an added cost for businesses to take out loans to finance large capital investments in their facilities and equipment and disproportionately impacts the manufacturing sector.  What are you doing to correct this policy?

Morelle: This year, I had the privilege of voting to advance the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act in the House of Representatives. This bipartisan legislation represents significant progress by expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, enhancing the Child Tax Credit and incorporating the AIM Act—my own legislative initiative to reinstate the EBITDA deduction standard. Reestablishing this deduction is essential to addressing the current tax code’s disproportionate burden on our manufacturing sector, which relies on loans for substantial investments in critical infrastructure and equipment. I remain committed to reintroducing the AIM Act in the upcoming Congress and to restoring the EBITDA deduction to ensure the continued strength of American manufacturing.

NAM: Correcting this policy would promote further domestic investment while helping address concerns about rising interest rates. As we get closer to next year, what are you hearing from stakeholders on the need for pro-growth tax policy so American businesses can engage and grow around the world?

Morelle: In today’s increasingly competitive global economy, American manufacturing is indispensable to expanding our workforce, enhancing competition and securing long-term economic growth. Unfortunately, the United States stands alone among OECD countries in applying an EBIT-based limitation, placing our industries at a competitive disadvantage. A return to the full EBITDA deduction would significantly enhance U.S. competitiveness and bolster economic prosperity. I am particularly proud that my district of Rochester, New York, was recently designated a Regional Innovation and Technology Hub by the Biden administration—a recognition that strengthens our community’s role in leading the manufacturing sector. As we approach the expiration of the TCJA, I am committed to championing pro-growth tax policies that uplift working families and drive innovation at both local and national levels.

NAM: Thank you, Rep. Morelle. Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers?

Morelle: As we prepare for the new Congress, I am committed to standing with American manufacturers and collaborating with NAM members to advance pro-growth solutions that drive our economy and support our shared vision.

Manufacturers agree that the U.S. should address the potential national security and privacy risks associated with connected vehicles—those that use technologies to communicate with each other and other systems. But “[n]ational security, privacy and economic strength can be pursued in conjunction with one another,” the NAM told the Commerce Department this week.
 
What’s going on: In September, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security proposed rules to ban connected vehicles that integrate information and communications technology from China and Russia (POLITICO).

• While manufacturers support safeguarding efforts, “[o]ur competitiveness also requires national security challenges to be addressed through proportionate actions … [that] do not unduly hinder” American manufacturing, NAM Managing Vice President of Policy Chris Netram told BIS on Monday.
• The rule’s software prohibitions would go into effect for vehicles model year 2027, while the hardware regulations would take effect for vehicles model year 2030. The NAM is asking BIS to discuss with stakeholders whether they need more time to comply, given the length of the automotive design and development cycles.

What it could do: If finalized, the rule would require automotive manufacturers using Chinese or Russian technology to find new suppliers.
 
The problem: “Automotive supply chains are highly complex, with [information and communications technology and services] embedded in the products of many sub-suppliers who sell to automotive original equipment manufacturers,” Netram continued.

• What’s more, information and communications technology and services “are foundational technologies across the manufacturing ecosystem and wider economy. As such, the rule in its current form could generate unintended consequences both within the automotive industry and across the broader ICTS supply chain, violating the department’s obligation to engage in reasoned decision making and avoid arbitrary and capricious rulemaking.”   

What should happen: The NAM urged BIS to take several actions, including the following:

• Clearer definitions: Certain wording in the rule should be rephrased for clarity, including “Person Owned by, Controlled by or Subject to the Jurisdiction or Direction of a Foreign Adversary” and “Connected Vehicle.”
• Covered software: “[T]he NAM urges BIS to consider revising the proposed rule to ensure it does not require visibility into and control over the software code provided by an OEM’s tier 3 suppliers and beyond.”
• Specific authorizations: “[T]he NAM recommends that BIS issue clear guidance about what criteria the Office of Information and Communications Technology would use to review and approve the risk assessments and the measures proposed by the applicant to mitigate the risks.”
• Attestations of compliance: Allow companies “to attest to their compliance” rather than “document and demonstrate compliance” to safeguard trade secrets.

The final say: With the NAM’s recommended changes, the BIS’s draft rulemaking “will support national security and privacy while ensuring that a vibrant manufacturing industry can continue to innovate and power growth in America for years to come,” Netram concluded.

The year may be winding down, but Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY) is only ramping up his efforts to reinstate a pro-growth tax provision that helps manufacturers debt finance job-creating projects.
 
What’s going on: As part of its “Manufacturing Wins” campaign, the NAM recently interviewed Rep. Morelle about what his congressional colleagues and he are doing to prevent “Tax Armageddon”—the end-of-2025 expiration of several important tax measures—and restore some vital, already expired tax provisions.

• Among the already expired provisions is tax reform’s standard for interest deductibility, which dictates how much interest on business loans manufacturers can write off. Tax reform capped companies’ interest deductions at 30% of their earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), but as of 2022, a more restrictive standard has been in place, based on companies’ earnings before interest and tax (EBIT).

What he’s doing about it: Rep. Morelle has introduced the American Investment in Manufacturing Act, “which aims to restore the deductible business interest cap to pre-2022 levels, encouraging vital domestic investment while mitigating the pressures of rising interest.”

• Rep. Morelle also noted that earlier this year he “had the privilege of voting to advance the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act in the House of Representatives,” bipartisan legislation that incorporates the AIM Act and would “reinstate the EBITDA deduction standard.”  

Why it’s important: Rep. Morelle explained that the U.S. “stands alone among OECD countries in applying an EBIT-based limitation, placing our industries at a competitive disadvantage.”

• “A return to the full EBITDA deduction would significantly enhance U.S. competitiveness and bolster economic prosperity,” he said.

Manufacturing critical: Rep. Morelle is working to “safeguard tax policies that support and strengthen American manufacturing.” With respect to interest deductibility, Rep. Morelle said that reinstating an EBITDA-based standard “is essential to addressing the current tax code’s disproportionate burden on our manufacturing sector, which relies on loans for substantial investments in critical infrastructure and equipment.”

Read the full interview with Rep. Morelle here.

Congress allowed a pro-growth standard for interest deductibility to lapse in 2022—and manufacturers are already feeling the effects, according to a new NAM explainer.  
 
What’s going on: Thanks to 2017 tax reform, from 2018 to 2021 manufacturers were allowed to deduct interest on business loans up to a cap of 30% of their earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). As of 2022, however, manufacturers’ interest deductions are capped at 30% of their earnings before interest and tax (EBIT).

• The result: a lower cap on how much interest companies can deduct, which means manufacturers effectively pay more to finance vital investments.   

How it works: “The difference between a company’s EBITDA and EBIT are its depreciation and amortization expenses,” according to the explainer, part of the NAM’s “Manufacturing Wins” campaign.

• “Manufacturers make significant long-term investments in depreciable assets (such as equipment and machinery) and intangible assets subject to amortization (such as intellectual property), so these businesses experience a substantial delta between their EBITDA and EBIT—and thus face a much stricter interest deductibility limit under an EBIT-based standard.”

Why it’s a problem: The more stringent cap has a disproportionate impact on manufacturers, with 77% of the impact falling on manufacturing and related industries—limiting manufacturers’ ability to expand their businesses.

• Also, of the 35 countries with an earnings-based interest limitation, the U.S. is the only one that uses an EBIT-based standard, putting America at a competitive disadvantage in attracting new investment.  

What we need: “Congress must act to restore a pro-growth, EBITDA-based interest deductibility standard,” said NAM Vice President of Domestic Policy Charles Crain. “Reversing the EBIT-based restriction will ensure that manufacturers can avoid increased financing costs and reduced liquidity—enabling capital investments throughout the industry.”

Washington, D.C. – Following the release of guidance by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS for the Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit (Section 45X of the Internal Revenue Code), National Association of Manufacturers Managing Vice President of Policy Chris Netram released the following statement:

“Manufacturers welcome today’s announcement of final guidance on the 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit and appreciate the administration’s willingness to make improvements that support manufacturing in the U.S. In particular, including critical mineral extraction and materials costs in the credit calculation will help bolster supply chain resiliency throughout the manufacturing sector. This tax credit will help manufacturers build a strong and sustainable domestic advanced manufacturing supply chain—from mining to processing to final product assembly.”

-NAM-

The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs nearly 13 million men and women, contributes $2.91 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for 53% of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the NAM or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.

Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Manufacturers released its Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey for Q3 2024, which, reflecting overall uncertainty across several challenges, shows a drop in manufacturing sentiment in the third quarter.

“The preelection uncertainty explains in part the drop in optimism, but economic pressures and policy threats are also at play. The good news is that there is something we can do about it,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “We will work with lawmakers from both parties to halt the looming tax increases in 2025; address the risk of higher tariffs; restore balance to regulations; achieve permitting and energy security; and ease labor shortages and supply chain disruptions.

“Manufacturers are the backbone of the U.S. economy, creating jobs, investing in our communities and developing products that make life better for everyone. When policymakers take action to create a more competitive business climate for manufacturers, we can sustain America’s manufacturing resurgence—and strengthen our can-do spirit.

“This administration and Congress—and the next administration and Congress—should take this to heart, put aside politics, personality and process and focus on the right policies to strengthen the foundation of the American economy.”

Select Survey Findings:

• The NAM conducted the Q3 2024 Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey Sept. 5–20. In Q3, 62.9% of respondents felt either somewhat or very positive about their company’s outlook, falling from 71.9% in the second quarter. The average over the past four quarters is 67.4%.
• A weaker domestic economy was cited as manufacturers’ top concern in Q3 2024, with 68.4% claiming it is their primary challenge. This was followed by rising health care costs (62.9%) and an unfavorable business climate (60.5%). Attracting and retaining a quality workforce now ranks as the fourth-highest concern, after remaining at the top of this list since Q4 2017.
• Manufacturers want Congress to prevent tax increases. Nearly 9 out of 10 respondents agree that Congress should act before the end of 2025 to prevent scheduled tax increases on manufacturers. The 20% pass-through deduction, individual tax rates and the estate tax exemption threshold are scheduled to expire or become less competitive at the end of 2025.
• Tax increases will harm growth in manufacturing in the United States, with 92.3% of manufacturers contending that the corporate rate should remain at or below 21%. If the corporate rate is increased from 21% to 28%, more than 71% of respondents said this increased tax burden will impact their business negatively.
• Lawmakers need to act to address health care costs for manufacturing workers. More than 72% of respondents support congressional action to reduce health care costs by reforming pharmacy benefit managers, while less than 6% oppose and 21.7% are uncertain.

The NAM releases these results to the public each quarter. Further information on the survey is available here.

-NAM-

The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs nearly 13 million men and women, contributes $2.91 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for 53% of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the NAM or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.

In a politically divided time, the NAM set out to answer an important question: Can businesses build trust, brighten views about America’s creators and rekindle belief in the American Dream? The answer, tested over three-and-a-half days at the Circleville Pumpkin Show in Ohio: “Yes, they can—and we probably should,” said NAM Managing Vice President of Brand Strategy Chrys Kefalas.

Why it matters: Declining American pride is more than just a cultural shift—it’s a business problem. “When people lose faith in the American Dream, they lose faith in manufacturers and the business community’s ability to drive progress, leading to skepticism, division and fewer supporters of the environment that manufacturers and businesses need to succeed,” said Kefalas.

• This challenge comes at a pivotal moment: America’s 250th anniversary—its Semiquincentennial—arrives in 2026. This milestone offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reignite pride and belief in the country’s future.

What we built: With funding from Stand Together Trust, the NAM and its partners developed the Route 250 Diner, a pop-up experience that combined stories about community creators, snack giveaways, career resources and service opportunities. It brought together businesses, trade groups and civic organizations to see if they could elevate creators locally and nationally while inspiring civic pride and acts of service.

The results: Nearly 4,700 visitors of many ages and political affiliations pledged to undertake service opportunities and shared overwhelmingly positive feedback. Some even contributed cash to survey boxes as a gesture of gratitude. The concept clearly resonated.

• “We need more of this,” “Love this” and “I hope y’all be back” were frequent refrains among survey respondents. “I believe that how towns like Circleville go, so goes America,” said Circleville Mayor Michelle Blanton. “What resonates here can inspire communities across the country.”

Leading brands take part: The concept won early supporters like Snap-on, Johnson & Johnson and The J.M. Smucker Company, as well as growing enterprises like Seaman Corporation and Centrus Energy. The Honda–LG Energy Solution battery plant joint venture team participated on-site, highlighting the 2,200 job opportunities at the new plant in Fayette County, Ohio.

• The National Restaurant Association and the International Franchise Association, which represent two vital sectors of the American economy, joined the effort, as well as state business groups The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association and the Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance.

Support: The NAM set out to complement national and state efforts to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and promote civic education. The concept enjoyed the participation of the congressionally chartered, nonpartisan U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission (America 250), state-chartered America 250-Ohio, the Bill of Rights Institute and the Edward M. Kennedy Institute. 

What they’re saying: Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) highlighted the initiative on social media, focusing on advancing participants’ career aspirations. “Empowered individuals and driving positive change in their communities are vital to America’s next 250 years,” said Stand Together Vice President Sarah Cross, stressing another key point of the activation.

• NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons: “By strengthening civic pride, inspiring acts of service and deepening our connections to our communities, we can ensure that manufacturers and enterprises across the nation shape a brighter future for America.”
• America250 Chair Rosie Rios: “The Route 250 Initiative is an important celebration of America’s creators and makers who play a vital role in strengthening our communities through meaningful acts of service as we approach America’s 250th anniversary in 2026.”
• National Restaurant Association President and CEO Michelle Korsmo: “The Route 250 Initiative reminds us that in every community, there are people creating opportunities for themselves and others—and that’s something worth celebrating as we help more people learn how to make America’s next 250 years better than our first.”
• Bill of Rights Institute President and CEO David Bobb: “By engaging in meaningful, constructive dialogue and celebrating the individuals who by their hands, hearts and minds are creating a better future, we can inspire a renewed commitment to those enduring ideals.”
• America 250-Ohio Executive Director Todd Kleismit: “By sharing stories of creators and community heroes and inviting us all to learn what we’re doing to serve our community, we’re not just celebrating the past—we’re inviting people to see themselves in America’s future.”
• The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association President Ryan Augsburger: “As we look ahead to America’s 250th anniversary, Ohio manufacturers will continue to lead the way. This diner and the Route 250 Initiative give us the chance to reflect on our past while also inspiring the next generation to shape the future—one innovation, one community, one creator at a time.”
• Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance Managing Director of External Affairs and Government Relations Tod Bowen: “As we look ahead to America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, we’re reminded of the importance of spaces like this. The diner invites us all to reflect on how we’re contributing to our communities and how, by coming together, we can make the next 250 years even better.”

The big takeaway: “At the heart of this proof of concept is a message: manufacturers, creators and communities all play essential roles in writing the next chapter of America’s story,” said Timmons. “This is a model, showing how civic pride, community service and the power of industry can renew belief in the American Dream.”

• “Some argue that no single narrative can unite the American people, but the Route 250 Diner and manufacturing’s story in America prove otherwise,” Kefalas added. “The question isn’t if we can find a unifying narrative—it’s who will step up to lead it, and that’s why we tried to show the way forward.”

What’s next: The NAM will evaluate the full results of the proof of concept with its partners and other key stakeholders, continuing to look for ways of using America’s 250th anniversary to strengthen the industry and the country.

In the news: POLITICO Influence covered the launch announcement, and The Scioto Post of Pickaway County, Ohio, previewed the experience.

More: Watch highlights of the grand opening event.

The NAM recently talked to Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) to learn what he and his colleagues on the Senate Finance committee are focused on as critical provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are set to expire next year. Here’s the full interview:

NAM: Senator Lankford, Congress is facing a “Tax Armageddon” next year, as crucial provisions from 2017’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are set to expire. As a member of the Senate Finance committee, what is your focus moving into next year’s debate?

Sen. Lankford: Extending the TCJA is crucial for American families and it creates certainty for businesses, particularly those policies encouraging investment and innovation. Failure to act will result in a tax increase for most American households and 96% of businesses. For greater predictability, Congress should push for as many permanent pro-growth policies as possible. One such policy is the full expensing of new investments, which allows businesses to deduct the cost of machinery and equipment in the year they are purchased. This measure has significantly incentivized capital investment, leading to job creation and economic expansion.

NAM: The 2017 tax reform package implemented full expensing for capital equipment purchases, which manufacturers overwhelmingly utilized in the years following. However, full expensing began to phase out in 2023 and will be completely eliminated from the tax code in 2027. What are you doing to protect this crucial policy?

Sen. Lankford: For the past 20 years, under Republican and Democratic administrations, bonus depreciation has been an essential element of good business tax policy. Bonus depreciation acknowledges that business expenses are not business profits, so they should not be taxed as profits. The 2017 tax bill expanded on that nonpartisan tax policy by allowing businesses to depreciate 100% of their capital and equipment during the purchase year, instead of over years and years of tax returns. That change doesn’t alter how much tax a business can deduct; it simply changes when they can deduct it. With 100% depreciation, a business can deduct its tax in a single year, instead of over several years. That allows a business to invest more capital, hire new employees faster and expand their business. My ALIGN Act will make bonus depreciation a permanent and predictable tax policy for our businesses and manufacturers, and it will encourage economic growth for decades to come.

NAM: As a Senator who was there during the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, you know how impactful the legislation was for manufacturers to be able to compete on a global level. As we get closer to next year, what are you hearing from stakeholders on the need for pro-growth tax policy so American businesses can engage and grow around the world?

Sen. Lankford: I have connected with Oklahoma businesses—both large and small—to discuss tax policies that affect them and how we can ensure our tax system provides certainty while keeping the U.S. competitive internationally. We must not lose sight of how a competitive tax code drives American investment, which, in turn, strengthens our economic and national security. The TCJA struck a competitive balance with a 21% corporate tax rate and a 20% rate for pass-through businesses.

Some are calling for an increase in the corporate rate to 28%. However, the average corporate tax rate in the EU is 21.3%, with a global average of 23% across 181 jurisdictions. China has a corporate tax rate of 25%, with a reduced 15% rate for new sectors. Moreover, China has significantly expanded its R&D deduction, while the U.S. is shrinking ours. We should reverse the decline of our R&D deduction and permanently encourage businesses of all sizes to remain innovative here in America.

As the Senator from Oklahoma, I’m keenly aware of the connection between a competitive tax code and energy security. As we work to strengthen our national security, now is not the time to target American oil and gas producers. Looking ahead to 2025, I will fight to protect the current treatment of intangible drilling costs (IDCs) in the tax code. IDCs allow oil and natural gas companies to recover these costs more quickly, freeing up funds for reinvestment in development. This not only creates more jobs but also enhances our energy security and keeps energy prices low for American families.

NAM: Thank you, Senator. What else can NAM members do to stay engaged and be a resource for you going into next year?

Sen. Lankford: I encourage everyone to regularly communicate with their congressional delegation about the impacts a lapse in the TCJA would have on their businesses and communities. For example, full expensing drives investments in sectors ranging from rural broadband and agriculture to energy security and manufacturing. These investments directly boost local economic output, create jobs, and enhance the competitiveness of communities in the market. It’s important to share this story as Congress works on a tax bill in 2025.

Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI) visited Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, as part of a series of facility visits from key members of Congress organized by the NAM. Rep. Grothman, representing a district with one of the largest percentages of its workforce employed in manufacturing, emphasized the importance of key tax policies that keep manufacturers competitive on a global scale.

During the visit, Rep. Grothman toured the facility with Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry CEO Sachin Shivaram and held a roundtable discussion with company and union leadership. Representatives from Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce also participated in discussions about the challenges facing manufacturers.

Innovation and R&D: Shivaram showcased the Foundry’s advanced aluminum and bronze casting capabilities during the tour. He also expressed concern about changes in R&D tax treatment, which have increased the cost of innovation.

• “R&D is essential to the future of our business,” said Shivaram, stressing that restoring full R&D expensing is crucial for manufacturers like Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry. With the expiration of first-year R&D expensing in 2022, the burden of financing R&D has become a major obstacle for small and medium-sized manufacturers.
• Rep. Grothman, who strongly supports restoring full R&D expensing, said, “Manufacturers need every incentive to innovate and grow. If we want to maintain our competitive edge, we need to ensure that tax policy encourages, not discourages, investment in R&D.”

Preserving tax reforms: The roundtable addressed the importance of preserving the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which benefited manufacturers by lowering the corporate tax rate and providing a 20% pass-through deduction for small businesses. These provisions are set to expire in 2025, creating uncertainty for manufacturers.

• Rep. Grothman pointed to Wisconsin’s manufacturing and agriculture credit as a model for federal tax policy going forward. The MAC, which substantially reduces state taxes on manufacturing income, has proven effective in supporting Wisconsin’s manufacturers.
• “We should look at expanding these kinds of targeted incentives nationwide,” Rep. Grothman said, noting that a similar approach at the federal level could bolster U.S. manufacturing and global competitiveness.

The local view: WMC President and CEO Kurt Bauer echoed the concerns about the expiration of the 2017 tax reforms.

• “If these tax provisions are allowed to expire, it would put significant strain on Wisconsin’s manufacturers,” Bauer said. “The ability to reinvest in equipment, innovation and workers is crucial for maintaining our global competitiveness, and losing these tax incentives would make that much harder.”

Workforce development: The roundtable also covered workforce development, a critical issue for an industry facing a shortage of skilled workers.

• Shivaram, who chairs the Governor’s Council on Workforce Investment, stressed the importance of expanding access to skills-based education and apprenticeship programs to meet the needs of modern manufacturing. “We need policies that help us train and retain the workforce of the future,” he said.
• Rep. Grothman echoed this sentiment, pledging to support federal workforce development initiatives that prepare workers for careers in advanced manufacturing. “A skilled labor force is the foundation of manufacturing’s future,” he said.

Closing thoughts: “It is critical that tax policy continue to support manufacturers, who are the backbone of our economy,” said Rep. Grothman. “If we allow tax reform to expire, it would result in devastating tax increases—stalling job creation and innovation. It’s on us in Congress to work together to preserve tax reform and encourage investment, protect jobs and keep American manufacturers competitive on the global stage.”