PETITION TO THE U.S. GOVERNMENT FROM AMERICANS FOR MANUFACTURING VITALITY

We the undersigned strongly advocate that the President of the United States and the Congress of the United States work together to produce immediately a comprehensive and pragmatic policy to create an environment that encourages innovation in the US industrial sectors, and enables small- and medium-sized manufacturers to compete effectively in the global economy.

We propose that this comprehensive policy include the following elements to create a sustainable and scalable atmosphere for growth, competition and job creation:

• Corporate Tax Policy Reform – reduce the burden on manufacturing businesses to free them to innovate and grow, as well as to compete with lower cost countries. This reform should include aggressive capital equipment and technology depreciation, as well as statutory corporate tax relief to encourage reinvestment in R&D and pursue exporting opportunities to emerging markets. Also, this policy must recognize and counter other governments' tax holidays that make manufacturing offshore an American company's only logical choice.

• Trade Policy Reform – establish and enforce clearly enunciated levels that work in conjunction with a reformed tax policy to make US manufacturers more attractive to international OEMs, as well as attract foreign-owned manufacturing into the United States.

• Regulatory Policy Reform – sensible lessening of regulatory burdens on business will allow for greater focus on core competencies, product R&D and global competitiveness.

• Immigration Reform – invest in a sound foundation of immigration policies that attract and retain the best technologists, scientists and innovators from around the world. As we adjust our educational focus to accommodate any upcoming human resource shortfalls in manufacturing, sound immigration reform will ensure we remain the global leader in technology development and discovery.

• Patent and Trademark Reform – recreate the processes and requirements for applications to keep pace with growing demand, accelerate awards and protect the inventions of small- and medium-sized manufacturers. Today, the Patent Office is overwhelmed by demand from domestic and foreign applicants, which stifles innovation and allows technologies and inventions to become obsolete.

We propose that such a comprehensive overall policy will reestablish and sustain the United States as the de facto leader of manufacturing in the world, fuel rapid economic recovery, minimize the effects of future economic downturns and create and sustain high-paying jobs critical to her citizenry and long-term security.