Hoyer Addresses SelectUSA Investment Summit

Congressman: “We Want You to Make It In America”

House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) spoke at the SelectUSA Investment Summit recently to discuss House Democrats’ new Make It In America plan and how the federal government can help more businesses Make It In America.

The summit brought together government officials, foreign investors, and economic development officials to discuss the federal government’s support of foreign direct investment to generate economic growth and create jobs here in the US.

“I’m here today to convey one important message,” opened his prepared remarks. ‘We want you to Make It In America.’ And: ‘We want you to select the United States as a place to locate and grow your business.’

“In 2010, as House majority leader, I launched the ‘Make It In America’ plan for jobs and opportunity. Our plan focused on making the federal government a partner in helping businesses – particularly manufacturing businesses – compete and grow here in America.

“One of our Make It In America bills has been Rep. Raul Ruiz’s ‘GROW Act,’ which would reauthorize the SelectUSA program for five years, allowing this program to expand and continue working to bring businesses here to create jobs in the United States. …

“Our new plan seeks to give businesses and workers the tools they need to surmount these new challenges and make new opportunities work to their full advantage.

“Some of these same opportunities are what led you to come to the SelectUSA Summit and consider investing here. They include cheaper energy, produced right here in America; new advances in technology that connect us like never before; and the rise of the ‘on-demand’ economy.

“More businesses are realizing that American consumers want to buy American-made goods. Not only because of their quality but because they can be produced and delivered almost immediately, opening up opportunities for businesses that market customization of their products.

“In Baltimore last week, I visited a start-up company making sleek, beautiful, high-quality skateboards that can be covered in custom designs. An Australian company tried to lure them down under, saying it would be cheaper to manufacture there. But the founder of the company said ‘no,’ understanding that his advantage lay in producing locally.

“That’s an advantage your businesses can have, and it’s something our Make It In America plan will seek to make easier for you and others who want to ‘build it’ here.

“Another key action area under our plan is to close the skills gap.

“Already, American workers are the most productive in the world. In the next few years, we’re determined to make sure they remain the most innovative and most highly skilled and highly trained workers too.

“That means that businesses making it in America will hold a further advantage – and that advantage is the power of the American worker.

“[President Obama has] announced that a consortium of nearly 200 partners in Los Angeles will lead a new ‘smart manufacturing innovation institute’ as part of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation. And he shared that five more institutes are open to competition.

“This network of institutes is consistent with the goals of the Make It In America plan. We want to break down barriers to manufacturing here, and targeted research helps to achieve that goal.

“But this particular announcement of the President’s fits in with our new Make It In America plan because the new smart sensors and digital controls the institute will help develop are part of the broader ‘internet of things.’ We’ve been hearing more and more about how these sensors and controls can help improve efficiency for businesses and lead to new products.

“My fellow House Democrats and I will continue to push for Make It In America proposals in Congress.

“Because we want you to find a place where it makes good financial sense to invest and hire – and we think that place is right here, in the United States.

“So thank you for your interest and for being here at this summit, and I hope all of you will invest here, select our country, and Make It In America.”