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U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan has introduced a bill that would create the position of U.S. Chief Manufacturing Officer, which would coordinate manufacturing policies and activities across government.

The officer would also develop a national manufacturing strategy to “establish a clear path for growth in the manufacturing sector,” said Ryan, D-13 Ohio, in a statement.

“There is no doubt that we need a wide-ranging strategy if we are to strengthen manufacturing in America. The CMO will help us get there by providing industry-specific advice on tax policies, infrastructure, transportation, regulations and workforce development,” he continued.

The bill was introduced with U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, R-NY. The two congressmen are co-chairmen of the House Manufacturing Caucus. The bill will also be reintroduced in the Senate by Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., according to Ryan’s deputy chief of staff, Ryan Keating.

“China has published their China 2025 plan that names manufacturing as one of their top five goals and they work towards those goals with focus that we lack,” Reed said. “In the U.S., manufacturing activities in the federal government span across 11 agencies in 50-plus different programs.

“99% of U.S. manufacturers are small- and medium-sized business with limited capacity for introducing new technologies into their organizations, much less working in a united way,” he continued. “We need a more strategic approach to manufacturing in this country.”

The bill, H.R. 2900, is cosponsored by Reps. David Cicilline, D-RI; Matthew Cartwright, D-PA; Eric Swalwell, D-CA; Graciela Napolitano; D-CA; Marcia Kaptur, D-Ohio; William Pascrell, D-NJ; James McGovern, D-MA; Haley Stevens, D-MI; Ro Khanna, D-CA; and Troy Balderson, R-Ohio.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.