Message from Congressman Mike Ross

Ross Says Congress Should Focus on Boosting American Manufacturing, Creating Jobs

In America, we’ve always been proud of the products we make. Our strong tradition of working hard, being productive and encouraging innovation is what has helped build the world’s strongest middle class and the most prosperous country in world. Now, at a time when millions are still out of work, it’s our responsibility to build on that tradition to create jobs, strengthen the middle class and secure our nation’s leading place in the world economy.

As your Congressman, I remain committed to American manufacturing and helping to keep and create more jobs here at home. That’s why I’m proud to join a legislative effort in Congress called “Make it in America” where we focus on making more goods in America, stop shipping our jobs overseas and start creating more private-sector jobs here are home.

According to the National Association of Manufacturers, manufacturing stimulates more economic activity than any other sector—and manufacturers are responsible for two-thirds of all research and development in America. It’s also important to know that a significant portion of that activity comes from our small businesses, with 99 percent of manufacturers employing fewer than 500 people.

Unfortunately, over the past decade, our nation has lost millions of jobs to foreign countries through a combination of outsourcing, bad trade deals and flawed tax policies. In fact, the number of Americans involved in producing goods is still near its lowest point since World War II. Unless we act now, we will continue to see our jobs shipped overseas and a decline in American manufacturing. For these reasons, we’ve got to examine and change our nation’s tax code and trade policies to stop rewarding companies who ship our jobs overseas.

I’ve already voted for and helped pass in the House several bipartisan “Make it in America” bills that are now law. These laws have sped up the patent process, invested in science and math education, encouraged small businesses to grow with tax cuts and loans, and much more.

More specifically, I voted for and helped pass the U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act – already signed into law – which includes tariff reductions and suspensions for American companies that help them expand, stay competitive and create more jobs. It also makes it cheaper for American companies to get the materials they need to produce more goods.

Also, I was proud to support the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, which has also been signed into law. This new law cuts taxes by over $4 billion for working families and is fully paid for by closing the tax loopholes that big businesses have exploited to ship jobs overseas. It also allows more in college tuition deductions, extends the research and development (R&D) tax credit for businesses and helps rebuild American roads and bridges.

These bills are only the beginning. We have a lot of work to do. As your voice in our nation's capital, I will continue pushing for commonsense economic policies that help hardworking Arkansans get back on their feet, help small businesses and manufacturers to grow and help our local economies become stronger than ever before.

American innovation and work ethic are the reason why the label "Made in America" is admired around the world. For Arkansas, "Make it in America" means making sure that success isn't simply a proud part of our history, but the foundation of our future.