PRESS RELEASES from National Association of Manufacturers

Manufacturing Takes Center Stage in Presidential Campaign as Republican Candidates Gather at NAM Forum
Candidates Meet in Iowa to Discuss Issues Critical to Manufacturing and Job Creation

Contact:
Jeff Ostermayer

Washington, D.C., 10/19/11 -  The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and its Board Chair Mary Andringa will host a forum for the Republican presidential candidates on November 1, 2011, at the Vermeer Corporation headquarters in Pella, Iowa. To date, the candidates participating in the forum, moderated by Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and PBS Nightly Business Report Co-Anchor and Managing Editor Tom Hudson, are Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA), Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) and former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA). The forum will begin at 10:00 a.m. CDT and end at 11:30 a.m. CDT.

“Manufacturing will continue to play a critical role in our economic recovery, and every candidate for this office recognizes the importance of job creation, so they need to hear directly from manufacturers,” said Vermeer Corporation President and CEO Mary Andringa, who also serves as chair of the NAM Board. “The issues important to manufacturers and their employees in Iowa and throughout the nation will play a central role in the 2012 presidential election. We are thrilled that these candidates seeking our nation’s highest office are joining us for a discussion on the challenges manufacturers face each day.”

“The policies coming from Washington impact manufacturers on a daily basis and underscore our need for pro-growth policies to boost our economy and create jobs,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “We are very pleased that Rep. Bachmann, former Speaker Gingrich, Rep. Paul, Gov. Perry and former Sen. Santorum will be joining manufacturers at the forum to discuss the issues that impact their businesses and how to move forward to a stronger, more vibrant future.”

Iowa Public Television will broadcast the forum, making it available for national broadcast and online streaming.
The NAM has laid out a comprehensive blueprint to keep manufacturing in the United States competitive, entitled A Manufacturing Renaissance: Four Goals for Economic Growth. The policies laid out in this new roadmap will be the basis for the discussion at the forum.

To view A Manufacturing Renaissance, please click here.

Manufacturers to Host Republican Presidential Candidate Forum in Iowa
CANDIDATES INVITED TO DISCUSS ISSUES CRITICAL TO JOB CREATION AND COMPETITIVENESS

Contact:
Jeff Ostermayer

WASHINGTON, D.C., 04/13/11 -  The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and its Board Chair Mary Andringa will host a forum for the 2012 Republican presidential candidates in Pella, Iowa, on Nov. 1, 2011. The forum will be moderated by Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad.

Vermeer Corporation’s headquarters will be the site for this important discussion. Vermeer is a family-owned manufacturing company that produces construction, agricultural and environmental equipment. Its products are used on job sites in more than 60 nations around the globe. Vermeer Corporation also operates sales manufacturing facilities in several countries and employs more than 2,400 people worldwide.  Mary Andringa is Vermeer’s president and CEO and also serves as chair of the NAM Board of Directors.

“Manufacturing is vital to the American economy, and we expect issues that affect manufacturers – from tax reform to energy security to job growth – to play a central role in the presidential election,” said Vermeer Corporation President Mary Andringa. “We look forward to welcoming the candidates to Vermeer and learning about their visions for keeping manufacturing in America strong.”

"I am pleased to have been asked to participate in Vermeer Corporation and the National Association of Manufacturers' Republican presidential candidate forum," said Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad. "This is an excellent opportunity for all of the candidates to discuss manufacturing, trade, tax reform and other issues that are critically important to the state of Iowa and the United States' economic prosperity."

The forum will provide an opportunity for the candidates to talk with manufacturers about their positions on critical issues. The NAM’s comprehensive “Manufacturing Strategy for Jobs and a Competitive America” outlines three goals to keep manufacturing in America competitive which include making the United States: the best country in the world to headquarter a company and attract foreign direct investment; the best country in the world to innovate, performing the bulk of a company’s research and development; and a great place to manufacture, both to meet the needs of the American market and serve as an export platform for the world.

“In today’s global economy, manufacturers are facing unprecedented challenges and costs imposed from Washington that hurt their ability to compete,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “We are excited to have the opportunity to discuss our goals for policies on taxes, trade and regulations that will promote sustained economic growth and job creation here in the United States.”

The major Republican candidates running for President in 2012 will be invited to participate in the forum. The NAM will also extend an invitation to President Obama to meet with manufacturers to discuss issues critical to manufacturing competitiveness.

The United States is the world’s largest manufacturing economy, producing 21 percent of global manufactured products. Nearly 12 million Americans are employed directly in manufacturing. Manufacturing in Iowa employs more than 200,000 people and accounts for more than 20 percent of Iowa’s economy.