Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement on the recent passing of John Luke, chair of the NAM Board of Directors (2005–2006) and member of the NAM Board (2001–2016):

“John Luke was a titan for manufacturers, a pillar in the communities he served and a champion for the people who make things in America.

“As our board chair, John’s passion for the strength and success of manufacturing was matched only by his steady focus on credible and durable solutions. Thoughtful and considerate, he knew how to ask the right questions—and hard questions—of policymakers. Grounded in his credibility, John earned the respect of lawmakers from both parties, business leaders across industries and partners not only in the United States but around the globe—bolstering the NAM’s reach on behalf of the manufacturers powering America’s prosperity.

“That focus on sustainable success, on intentional leadership, on meaningful change defined every step of John’s life and career—in his dedication to his country as an officer in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War, where he was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service; through his decades of leadership at the global packaging giant Smurfit WestRock and its predecessors, MeadWestvaco and Westvaco; and in his service on the boards of major institutions spanning industry, education and public policy, including the American Enterprise Institute, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the commercial property insurance company FM Global and Virginia Commonwealth University, among many others.

“John’s tireless advocacy for our industry and our workforce was rooted in the fact that his family’s story is a manufacturing story.

“In the 1880s, John’s family founded the Piedmont Pulp & Paper Company in Piedmont, West Virginia. That company evolved over the decades to become Westvaco, where John took the helm as CEO and chairman in 1992. Shortly after John joined the NAM Board of Directors in 2001, Westvaco merged with the Mead Paper Company—a company close to my heart, where my grandfather worked in the Chillicothe, Ohio, plant for over 40 years.

“Nearly two decades ago, in an interview at the Wharton School of Business—where he had earned his M.B.A.—John said that ‘It is imperative for all aspiring leaders to determine answers to the critical questions of ‘What change?,’ ‘Why change?’ and ‘How change?’ if meaningful sustainable success is to be achieved from your efforts.’

“In his life, John asked what must change, why and how—and answered each question with conviction. Manufacturing in the United States, the people we hire and the communities we serve are all stronger as a result.

“The NAM today reflects John’s legacy: an institution with a steady focus on sustainable solutions. We send our deepest sympathies to Kathleen and the entire Luke family.”

-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 $2.95 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. 

733 10th St. NW, Suite 700 • Washington, DC 20001 • (202) 637-3000 

Washington, D.C. – Manufacturers today welcomed President Trump’s national AI legislative framework for its practical, pro-growth policy recommendations to advance U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence.

National Association of Manufacturers Executive Vice President Erin Streeter issued the following statement urging Congress to take up policies to advance AI innovation:

“Manufacturers support a consistent federal framework that emphasizes innovation and avoids a cumbersome 50-state patchwork, and President Trump’s announcement today reflects this approach. The president’s commonsense AI framework will remove barriers to innovation and growth, which is critical for success. But we also need comprehensive permitting reform to go hand in hand to achieve the energy dominance needed to set manufacturers on a trajectory to win the global race for AI.

“We look forward to working with Congress to get this done.”

Background

Manufacturers have been at the forefront of developing and implementing cutting-edge AI systems that are transforming shop floors and revolutionizing operations.

Last December, the NAM supported President Trump’s AI Executive Order on state AI regulations and endorsed several bills to streamline permitting.

In July 2025, the Manufacturing Institute, the nonprofit workforce development and education affiliate of the NAM, unveiled a set of policy priorities responding to a White House Executive Order on workforce modernization.

In May 2025, the Manufacturing Leadership Council, the digital transformation division of the NAM, released a groundbreaking report, “Shaping the AI-Powered Factory of the Future,” revealing that 51% of manufacturers already deploy AI in their operations, and 80% say AI will be essential to growing or maintaining their business by 2030. This is not just about efficiency—it’s about competitiveness, innovation and the future of American industry.

In May 2024, the NAM published “Working Smarter: How Manufacturers Are Using Artificial Intelligence”—a report that explains the ways in which manufacturers are using AI already, making the technology integral to modern manufacturing with manufacturers at the forefront of developing and implementing AI systems.

-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 $2.95 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. 

733 10th St. NW, Suite 700 • Washington, DC 20001 • (202) 637-3000

Washington, D.C. – National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth District decision enabling Resolution Copper’s congressionally mandated land exchange to move forward—an outcome the NAM helped drive through years of sustained advocacy and strategic legal action, including an amicus brief filed with the court.

“The completion of Resolution Copper’s land exchange is a monumental milestone for our nation and the manufacturing industry’s efforts to ensure U.S. supply chains have reliable access to the raw materials that power our economy. We appreciate the leadership of the Trump administration, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, the Bureau of Land Management and Congress for getting this extremely important land exchange across the finish line.

“The significance of this moment cannot be overstated. The U.S. imports about 35% of its copper. At full capacity, Resolution Copper—the third-largest known copper deposit in the world—could supply a quarter of all U.S. copper demand and as much as 40 billion pounds of copper over 40 years, securing access to critical minerals that are essential to our nation’s economic strength and national security. This would also reduce our reliance on adversarial nations for minerals and boost energy and critical national defense systems. The land exchange proves what is possible when policy, process and partnership align. It’s the kind of outcome manufacturers need to see more often: one that protects key landscapes, unlocks critical resources and advances America’s economic and national security.”

Background:

Copper is a critical material for manufacturing—serving as a core input in industrial production and machinery, as well as energy infrastructure that powers factories, data centers and advanced technologies. As manufacturers work to outcompete China and achieve American energy dominance, securing reliable, domestic sources of critical minerals like copper has become increasingly urgent. The NAM’s recent policy framework underscores this need, calling for a comprehensive critical minerals strategy.

At the same time, projects like Resolution Copper illustrate the challenges posed by the current permitting landscape. For more than a decade, the project has faced complex and uncertain federal review processes—reflecting broader systemic issues. According to recent NAM analysis, America’s broken permitting system costs manufacturers at least $7.9 billion each year, highlighting the need for bipartisan, comprehensive permitting reform to strengthen America’s economic and national security.

-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 $2.90 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. 

733 10th St. NW, Suite 700 • Washington, DC 20001 • (202) 637-3000 

Washington, D.C. – Manufacturers today are urging policymakers to enact a modern, comprehensive policy agenda to secure access to critical minerals for both the industry and the nation—one that generates new pipelines for critical mineral projects at home while securing diversified access to vital manufacturing inputs sourced globally. To advance this agenda, the National Association of Manufacturers shared with the United States Trade Representative a framework to rebalance global supply chains with plurilateral partners.  

“The stakes are clear: manufacturers depend on secure, reliable and sustainable supply chains to make things in America,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “Critical minerals and rare earth elements are essential for automotive parts and vehicles, electrical grid components, robotics and industrial automation, defense technology, electronics and more. With China dominating global supply chains, manufacturers can no longer risk these vulnerabilities.  

“Manufacturers support the administration and Congress’ efforts to rebalance global supply chains through comprehensive actions domestically and with international partners. The comprehensive approach the NAM is releasing today will enhance critical minerals capacity at home, leverage resources abroad and safeguard access to a diverse range of critical minerals necessary for U.S. economic strength and national security.”  

The NAM’s two-pronged policy framework offers specific, complementary domestic and international policy recommendations to the Trump Administration and Congress. On the domestic front, it calls for enacting comprehensive permitting reform and making strategic energy incentives permanent. Internationally, the NAM urges the administration to negotiate a plurilateral agreement that positions U.S. investors for success and leverages the collective advantages of international partners and allies across every stage of the critical minerals life cycle—effectively rebalancing the global market for critical minerals.  

Read the NAM’s full policy agenda 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 $2.95 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.  

733 10th St. NW, Suite 700 • Washington, DC 20001 • (202) 637-3000 

Washington, D.C. – As the review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement gets underway, a majority of manufacturers report they utilize either Canada or Mexico for critical parts of their supply chains—at a time when trade uncertainty remains manufacturers’ top business concern, according to the National Association of Manufacturers Q1 2026 Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey. The survey also shows manufacturers’ optimism is rising, with 75.3% reporting a positive outlook for their company, up 5.4 percentage points from the previous quarter.

Among the manufacturers that utilize Canada or Mexico for critical parts of their supply chain, exactly half rely on both countries, according to the latest findings. The majority of U.S. imports from Mexico and Canada are industrial inputs such as machinery, equipment and raw materials while Canada and Mexico also purchase one-third of manufactured good exports—more than the next nine U.S. trading partners combined.

“Manufacturers are ready for liftoff, but the skies need to clear,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “This quarter shows a mixed bag of results with real momentum from tax reform, regulatory rebalancing and energy policy. At the same time, the results underscore how essential durable supply chains are to manufacturing success—and how critical Canada and Mexico are to that system, which is why we need to preserve and strengthen the USMCA.”

“For the first time since 2023, manufacturers’ outlook topped the historical average of 74.3%, and manufacturers expect most indices to improve meaningfully over the next 12 months. Sales and production are projected to rise 3.8% and 3.5%, respectively, up from the previous quarter’s forecast of 2.8% and 2.4% growth,” said NAM Chief Economist Victoria Bloom. “However, challenges persist. For example, raw material and other input costs are not anticipated to slow, rising at the same pace as projected in Q4 (4.1%) and ranking as the third-highest business concern at 57.5%.”

Key findings:

• 70.6% of manufacturers cited trade uncertainties as a top business challenge for the fifth consecutive quarter.
• 54.6% secure critical inputs from either Canada or Mexico—82.2% of those manufacturers say they source raw materials or other inputs from either country.
• Of those that utilize Canada or Mexico, 62.7% benefit from a strong customer base across the border.
• For the second consecutive quarter, rising health care/insurance costs (69.8%) remained the second most-cited business challenge for manufacturers.

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 $2.95 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.

Watch NAM’s Jay Timmons and SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler on Fox Business

Washington, D.C. – Today, the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Small Business Administration host the inaugural 2026 Supplier Matchmaking Expo at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina. There, large manufacturers will connect with smaller suppliers, strengthening their U.S. supply chains and paving the way for more job creation and investment in American industrial dominance.

Ahead of the event, NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons and SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler joined “Mornings with Maria” on Fox Business to discuss the state of manufacturing.

On Impact of H.R. 1 for Manufacturers

JAY TIMMONS: “I was here … in Charlotte where I got to see the benefits of H.R. 1. We were at Ketchie … the CEO of that company had signs all over her plant showing which machines were able to be purchased because of the tax reforms of 2017 and 2025. You put that together with regulatory modernization and energy development, and then you start putting together small manufacturers who can actually contribute to the supply chain and you’ve just got a supercharged economy. SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler has been all over the road for the last 57 weeks, I think, pointing out how we need to really strengthen and supercharge the power and the might of small manufacturers here in the United States.”

On 2026 Supplier Matchmaking Expo

KELLY LOEFFLER: “We’re so proud to partner with the National Association of Manufacturers to bring large manufacturers like Ford, Siemens, Boeing, Lockheed and many others together with a half dozen federal agencies and then nearly 900 small businesses. And this is the energy that we see on the ground—that small manufacturers are seeing a ramp-up in orders. You saw that in the ISM, both the services and the manufacturing data, two consecutive months of expansion. What’s exciting about this is that’s a forward-looking metric, as is the small business optimism that we see in this sector. Seventy percent of companies expect revenue growth, half expect to expand. I’ve talked to manufacturers that expect to double, and we’ve seen the demand from large manufacturers that need their subcontractors, companies like Ford that use 5,000 small business manufacturers to help strengthen their supply chain. Those manufacturers need to be in America. Those are American jobs, and that’s why we’re so excited to host this event today in Charlotte.”

On Manufacturing Workforce Needs

TIMMONS: “There are about 400,000 open jobs in manufacturing right now, and what we’re seeing is a need for more highly specialized jobs on the technical side—technicians who can help us develop AI and infuse AI into our workforce. About 50% of small businesses right now use AI in their operations. That number will grow to about 80% by the year 2030. So, think in terms of jobs that we don’t even have an idea of what they look like today. Every generation … the job types in manufacturing change so substantially, and AI, I think, is going to take us in a whole different direction.”

LOEFFLER: “What we see on the ground is strong demand for the skilled workforce, and that’s what we’re working with small businesses on. They have millions of jobs open. This is what our mandate is now … to help create the skilled workforce of the future because those jobs are out there, as Jay said, and we need to make sure that our young people are ready to take those jobs on.”

-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 $2.95 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. – Vermeer Corporation, an industrial and agricultural equipment producer based in Pella, Iowa, is crediting the pro-growth tax provisions of H.R. 1 with supporting the company’s plan to build an all-new 300,000-square-foot facility in the Des Moines metro that will create more than 300 jobs.

Vermeer said in a company statement, “We’re grateful for the state of Iowa, the pro-business environment, the skilled workforce here and economic policies, like Working Families Tax Cuts, that have helped support Vermeer’s long-term growth.”

Last August, National Association of Manufacturers Executive Vice President Erin Streeter joined Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) for a Made in America Manufacturing Tour across Iowa’s 1st District, where they visited Vermeer’s facility in Pella. During the tour, Vermeer President and CEO and NAM Executive Committee member Jason Andringa said H.R. 1 “sets up manufacturers for a generation of continued growth and advancement.”

Streeter praised Rep. Miller-Meeks’ leadership during the tour.

“H.R.1 is a landmark win for manufacturing—delivering pro-growth policies that will strengthen our industry for years to come. Without bold leadership from lawmakers like Rep. Miller-Meeks, manufacturers could have been crippled by the largest tax hike in history—jeopardizing the progress we made after the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Iowa’s 1st Congressional District is the first in the state for manufacturing. We want to thank her for protecting 13,000 jobs and $1.2 billion in wages at more than 800 manufacturing companies in her district alone.”

Background

KEY FACTS: If Congress had failed to preserve tax reform in 2025, the U.S. would have risked:

• 5.9 million lost jobs;
• A $540 billion reduction in employee compensation; and
• A $1.1 trillion shortfall in U.S. GDP.

-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 $2.95 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. – Following the decision by Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to reopen permitting reform negotiations, National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement:

“Permitting reform is one of the key pillars of a comprehensive manufacturing strategy that will help clear the skies for manufacturers. We thank Sens. Whitehouse and Heinrich for reopening negotiations on this critical issue. The stakes couldn’t be higher for manufacturers: America’s permitting system is broken—with projects taking up to 80% longer to move forward than in peer nations. America cannot lead the world in all forms of energy, AI and advanced manufacturing while projects remain stuck in yearslong permitting delays. Coming off the NAM State of Manufacturing Tour, the message has been clear—America needs a faster, more reliable permitting system to build the infrastructure that powers growth and keeps our industry competitive. 2026 must be the year of permitting reform. We want ribbon cuttings, not red tape, so manufacturers can build new shop floors, energy facilities and new infrastructure here in the United States.

“In addition to our champions in the House of Representatives—including Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME)—we are grateful to Sens.  Whitehouse, Heinrich, Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Mike Lee (R-UT) for their continued efforts to advance bipartisan, comprehensive permitting reform—an essential pillar of a comprehensive manufacturing strategy and an all-of-the-above approach to energy. By modernizing our broken permitting system, Congress can deliver the certainty manufacturers need to build faster, invest with confidence and improve the quality of life for all Americans.”

Background:

In February, the NAM launched “Building to Win,” a six-figure campaign urging Congress to pass robust infrastructure investments and reauthorize critical federal highway programs before they expire on Sept. 30. As part of the launch, the NAM unveiled a new infrastructure policy roadmap, including original analysis on the economic costs of congestion on manufacturers and a set of core infrastructure policy pillars. The NAM also debuted a new ad underscoring the importance of infrastructure investment and permitting reform to manufacturing competitiveness.

Permitting reform has long been a top legislative priority for the NAM. In the final weeks of 2025, the NAM pushed for permitting reform measures that advanced in the House—including the passage of the SPEED ACT. Manufacturers are calling on the Senate to take the helm and build on that momentum by advancing the SPEED Act, a cornerstone of the NAM’s “Manufacturing’s Roadmap to AI and Energy Dominance.”

-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 $2.95 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. – As part of the 2026 National Association of Manufacturers State of Manufacturing Tour, Ketchie President and Owner Courtney Silver hosted the NAM for a discussion on how tax certainty due to the NAM-backed H.R. 1 has empowered manufacturers like her to reinvest in their workforce and facilities.

The tour stop was covered by Business North Carolina. Excerpts of the report can be found below. Bolding has been added.

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Ketchie CEO credits Trump’s ‘beautiful bill’ with helping her machine shop prosper
Business North Carolina
Kevin Ellis
Feb. 23, 2026
https://businessnc.com/ketchie-ceo-credits-trumps-beautiful-bill-with-helping-her-machine-shop-prosper/

Miguel Carrillo describes himself as a “machine nerd,” and he had an engaged audience on Monday watching him operate a $700,000 device brought in last year to Concord-based Ketchie, the machine shop where he works.

Ketchie may only have 20 employees, but it was a stop on the State of Manufacturing Tour that National Association of Manufacturers President Jay Timmons began last week in Cleveland and will continue across the country after visiting three Charlotte-area sites on Monday. Tagging along with Timmons at Ketchie was Acting Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Derek Theurer, U.S. Rep. Tim Moore of Cleveland County and NC Chamber President Gary Salamido.

Ketchie CEO Courtney Silver was a supporter of the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the legislation signed into law last year by President Donald Trump. She testified at congressional hearings before its passage about how it would help small businesses. Timmons said he had heard so much about Ketchie’s new machines, he wanted to see them in action.

The tax bill that eliminates income tax on overtime and tips for some workers also allows businesses to reduce their tax bills on investments immediately, rather than spreading the reduction out over several years, says Silver.

“When you can expense an investment in the year it was purchased, it provides cash flow to companies and continues to allow them to make new investments,” says Silver.

Ketchie purchased three machines last year that combined cost more than $1.1 million, plus made about $400,000 in other investments, including AI software that has cut some hour-long processes down to five minutes.

“I would have never made those investments without immediate expensing,” Silver says. She says she’s also looking to add five workers to her shop.

“This is a perfect example of what you can do to help build America and American manufacturing with the right policies in place,” says Timmons.

Theurer said it was nice to see advanced manufacturing take place in a North Carolina factory rather than spending his day on policy in the nation’s capital.

“This type of investment is what we intended to see when we made our big tax policy and worked for smarter regulation,” said Theurer.

…

Ketchie supplies metal parts to railroad, aerospace and heavy industry manufacturers, such as Charlotte steelmaker Nucor, Davidson-based HVAC company Trane and Norfolk Southern. The company was started in 1947 by Edgar Ketchie, the grandfather of Silver’s late husband.

On Monday, Carrillo was machining a steel part needed by an industrial recycling company. The Dual Spindle 5-Axis Machining Center that Ketchie bought last year doesn’t require Carrillo to reset the machine for the other side of the metal part, which is about half the size of a deck of cards, but grooved. It means quicker production and fewer human errors, he says.

“It allows me to step out and allows the machine to do the heavy lifting,” says Carillo. The advanced manufacturing aspect attracted the 2024 graduate of A.L. Brown High School to work at Ketchie after starting in a job shadowing program while a high school junior. “It’s nice when a machine can do one thing, but it’s really nice when a machine can do a lot of things.”

…

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Background

Learn more about Silver’s testimony before Congress in 2025 on the importance of preserving the pro-manufacturing policies of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act here.

KEY FACTS: If Congress had failed to preserve tax reform in 2025, the U.S. would have risked:

• 5.9 million lost jobs;
• A $540 billion reduction in employee compensation; and
• A $1.1 trillion shortfall in U.S. GDP.

-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 $2.95 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.

PHOENIX – Following the announcement of the United States military operations in Iran, National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement:

“Manufacturers in the United States have always stood ready when our nation calls. From serving as the Arsenal of Democracy to equipping those who defend freedom today, our industry has the capacity to support U.S. objectives across multiple theaters and sustained operations. Today, manufacturers honor the courage and commitment of the men and women in uniform who stand watch and carry out this mission.

“Since November 4, 1979, the United States has endured hostility and terrorism from a rogue government in Tehran. Time and again, the Iranian regime has sponsored international terrorism, destabilized its region, violated the rights of its own people and disrupted legitimate commerce and maritime security.

“Through Operation Epic Fury, President Trump has initiated major combat operations with these stated objectives:

• Eliminating imminent threats posed by the regime,
• Preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons,
• Neutralizing military infrastructure that threatens regional and global security,
• Countering destabilizing regional aggression, and
• Supporting the Iranian people’s right to determine their own future.

“At moments of consequence, national unity matters. Congress should fully engage to ensure clarity of mission, alignment of authority and the sustained support of the American people.

“We also call upon allied governments and partner business associations around the globe to stand together to protect regional stability, safeguard global commerce and reinforce the collective resolve that keeps peace through credible strength.

“When security, commerce and liberty are threatened, the United States must lead with strength, resolve and the support of its people.”

-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 $2.95 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.