The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has encouraged the U.S. government to take actions which will strengthen the manufacturing sector, including building strong equipment markets by stimulating capital investment and creating jobs through highway transportation infrastructure investment. AEM also advocated reducing regulatory burdens on equipment manufacturers, including implementation of balanced diesel engine emissions regulations, and repealing steel tariffs that have hurt U.S. manufacturers.
"A strong highway bill would cause immediate manufacturing and construction job creation as well as long-lasting impact because of its sorely needed investment in the nation's transportation infrastructure. For each $1 billion invested in transportation infrastructure, 47,500 direct and indirect jobs are created, supplying nearly $2 billion a year in family income," said AEM Chairman Ron DeFeo, chairman and CEO of Terex Corp., Westport, Conn.
The association outlined its members' priorities in comments to the U.S. Department of Commerce in response to the agency's "Manufacturing Matters" initiative. AEM represents manufacturers of construction, agricultural, forestry, mining and utility equipment and related service providers.
AEM believes that a strong investment in transportation infrastructure, including a six-year reauthorization of TEA-21 legislation, will provide immediate economic impact by expanding equipment manufacturing and construction jobs in addition to benefiting the entire U.S. economy through a more efficient transportation network. Such a bill could have an effect on construction equipment manufacturers similar to that provided by last year's "farm bill" for the agricultural equipment sector, which is currently returning to a growth cycle.
Other AEM priorities in the governmental area include supporting free trade agreements and international standards initiatives, enacting federal "Healthy Forest" reforms, addressing asbestos litigation issues and addressing tax issues such as permanent repeal of the estate tax and oppose proposed off-road equipment excise taxes.
