Creating Jobs & Innovation: What a Concept

The annual salary survey (page 74) in this issue of MPO is always an interesting exercise. It’s an opportunity not just to hear what readers are thinking about their professions, but also about what excites and makes them nervous about the current state of the medical device market. One of the most common themes throughout participants’ open-ended responses was a concern about maintaining and reinvigorating the U.S. medtech industry’s innovation edge.

In a refreshing show of bipartisanship, a few lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are attempting to tackle that topic head on.
The Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act (RAMI) of 2014 passed the U.S. House of Representatives by voice vote on Sept. 15. The legislation was introduced last year by Reps. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) and Joseph Kennedy (D-Mass.).  The legislation had 100 co-sponsors—50 Democrats and 50 Republicans.

“RAMI would create a network of regional manufacturing institutes across the country to support domestic production, drive innovation and expand workforce development in growing industries,” according to the legislation’s authors.

“In every corner of our country, the transformation of the manufacturing industry is creating jobs and expanding access to opportunity for millions of Americans,” said Kennedy, a 34-year-old, first-term congressman from one of U.S. politics’ most iconic families. “Today’s bipartisan passage of RAMI by the House of Representatives is another step towards the kind of domestic manufacturing policy our country needs to stay on the cutting edge of a global economy. I am grateful for Congressman Reed’s partnership on this bill and look forward to supporting Sens. Brown and Blunt as it progresses through the Senate.”

RAMI would establish a network of regional institutes across the country, each focused on a unique technology, material or process relevant to advanced manufacturing—including medical technology. Composed of local industry, academia and other stakeholders, the institutes would work to expand research and development, close the gap between research and development, and commercialization of products, support small and midsize manufacturers, and train a top-tier advanced manufacturing workforce.

“We’re thrilled to have such overwhelming support for our bipartisan bill to create high-tech, high-paying manufacturing jobs for Americans,” said Reed. “These are the kinds of jobs that will give Americans for generations to come the opportunity to create and innovate right here at home—not across the ocean. I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish together with my colleagues Rep. Joe Kennedy and Sens. Roy Blunt and Sherrod Brown. Our shared vision sets the stage for an American manufacturing renaissance and will position the United States in the best way possible to be the world leader in advanced manufacturing. In this economy, Americans need something to come together on, something to unite around to fight for jobs. RAMI is that uniting initiative.”

RAMI awaits a vote in the Senate, where it was introduced by Sens. Brown (D-Ohio) and Blunt (R-Mo.). It passed the Senate Commerce Committee earlier this summer. No word yet on when the Senate will vote. Given the upcoming midterm elections and the lame-duck Congress that follows, action this year remains in question.

The legislation’s sponsors in the upper chamber remain enthusiastic, however.

“This bill keeps innovation and production here at home,” said Brown. “Our nation is most successful when we work together, and a network for manufacturing innovation would foster public-private partnerships that give small businesses, industry leaders, and research institutions the tools they need to compete on a global scale. These regional, industry-led hubs will leverage local expertise and will create thousands of high-paying, high-tech manufacturing jobs for American workers.”

“This bipartisan bill would put more people back to work by bringing together public and private agencies, businesses, universities, and other organizations to revitalize American manufacturing and innovation,” said Blunt. “I’m very pleased my House colleagues passed this common-sense, bipartisan provision, and I continue to urge Majority Leader [Harry] Reid (D-Nev.) to
allow a vote in the Senate as soon as possible.”

A great step in the right direction. Now, it’s the Senate’s turn. Don’t hold your breath just yet.

Christopher Delporte
Editorial Director 
[email protected]