Obama's "Framework for Revitalizing American Manufacturing" a step in the right direction

ACEEE (Trombley) - On December 16, 2009, President Obama released a report on revitalizing manufacturing in the United States. The report lays out the current state of manufacturing in America, discussing seven key cost drivers, how government action--or inaction--can affect those costs, and how the Obama Administration plans to use government influence to improve American manufacturing.

The report goes details seven ways in which government can impact manufacturing costs and lays out specific policy proposals that will aid American manufacturers. The seven items are:

1. Provide workers with the opportunity to obtain the skills necessary to be highly productive.
2. Invest in the creation of new technologies and business practices.
3. Develop stable and efficient capital markets for business investment.
4. Help communities and workers transition to a better future.
5. Invest in an advanced transportation infrastructure.
6. Ensure market access and a level playing field.
7. Improve the business climate, especially for manufacturing. 

One policy not mentioned in the report is DOE's Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) program. Expanding this program (as directed under the ACELA bill) would establish workforce training at universities and community colleges, improve competitiveness of American manufacturing, and reduce energy use.