For New President Trump, The Proof Will Be in the Policy

By Elizabeth Brotherton-Bunch
Jan 20 2017

AAM’s Scott Paul: “It will take a concerted effort” to create jobs, but it’s doable.

Newly sworn-in President Trump pushed his decidedly populist vision in his inaugural address on Friday, pledging that “America will start winning again” and “we will bring back our dreams.”

As was the case with many of Trump’s speeches on the campaign trail, his address centered around the need to put America first, including when it comes to jobs.

Trump cited “rusted out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation” and said that “factories shuttered and left our shores with not even a thought about the millions and millions of American workers that were left behind.” He called for policies such as infrastructure investment, and reiterated his “Buy American and Hire American” plans.

Immediate reactions to the speech were divisive. Some loved it; others hated it.

But actually getting the job done will involve more than talk (or in Trump’s case, tweets). The new president has to work with Congress to enact smart policy that will create good-paying, middle-class jobs and strengthen American manufacturing.

Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul outlined a few policy ideas in a New York Times op-ed back in December; AAM went into specifics in an in-depth letter sent to the Trump team earlier this week.

And as Scott Paul noted in a statement today, some of Trump’s ideas aren’t entirely new. His “Buy American” push builds off of much of the work that former President Barack Obama led during the implementation of the 2009 Recovery Act.

It’s also worth noting that manufacturing job growth will not involve merely restarting old assembly lines. Here’s Scott Paul:

“Manufacturing industries change rapidly, and so do the skillsets they require of workers upon entry. His administration must lead the way in preparing our workforce for this changing economy, so they can participate and reap its benefits too.”

Other key areas for Trump and Congress to work together on: Trade enforcement, infrastructure investment, Buy America preferences, and strategic tax reform. The good news? There’s room for bipartisanship in many of these areas – and there already have been signs that Members will reach across the aisle to get some important work done.

The Alliance for American Manufacturing looks forward to working with the Trump administration and Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to enact policy that will grow factory jobs, strengthen American manufacturing and grow our economy.