|
|
|
DeLauro Offers Plan to Save Manufacturing Jobs
Seeks 'level playing field' for manufacturers
|
Business New Haven
11/24/2003
By: BNH
|
U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro (D-3) earlier this month unveiled a plan designed to help manufacturers keep jobs in the U.S. and Connecticut. The plan includes full funding of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, urging accountability in U.S. defense procurement laws, eliminate tax subsidies to manufacturers that move their headquarters abroad, incenting the federal government to buy American, reform U.S. non-immigrant visa policies and invest in K-12 math and science education.
DeLauro releasing the plan at a November 17 press conference in Waterbury.
Particulars of the DeLauro plan include:
o Tax relief for manufacturers that keep jobs in the U.S. DeLauro supports H.R. 1769, which offers businesses a ten-percent rate reduction on income derived from work performed in the country. For example, companies in the highest 35-percent tax bracket would receive a 3.5-percent reduction, from 35 to 31.5 percent.
o Full funding of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership and other programs that help manufacturers and manufacturing workers. The current administration budget, DeLauro says, would cut more than 80 percent from MEP's 2004 budget. In addition, the budget proposal cuts 18 percent of funding for Mantech, a Department of Defense program that supports research and development of advanced manufacturing technologies.
o Accountability in defense procurement laws to protect U.S. manufacturers. DeLauro's measures would require the Secretary of Defense to review offset contracts to determine their impact on U.S. manufacturers. Under offset contracts, foreign governments agree to buy major weapons systems from U.S. companies only if American corporations transfer some of the work to that country.
o Eliminate tax subsidies to manufacturers that move their headquarters abroad. DeLauro says she would close the loophole that gives manufacturers tax breaks for moving their headquarters abroad. She says that corporate expatriates earned $1.4 billion in federal contracts last year. "We must stop this unfair practice and level the playing field for other manufacturers who are good corporate citizens and abide by the rules," she says.
o Strengthen the federal government mandate to buy American. DeLauro says that consumers have the right to know how what proportion of the products they buy are truly manufactured in America. She supports the establishment of a commission to determine how to label consumer goods so that buyers can make an informed decision when comparing U.S.-made goods with foreign-made goods on a store shelf.
o Invest in K-12 math and science education. According to DeLauro, "International tests show our students lagging behind many industrialized nations in math and science. While it is projected that U.S. demands for scientists and engineers will double, national scores remain flat." She seeks the "highest possible" funding level for programs that focus on improving student achievement in math and science.
|
Go FirstGo PreviousGo
NextGo LastGo
to Index
|
|
