By Wade Balkonis, AEM Director of Grassroots Advocacy —
Every single day in America, the 2.8 million men and women of the equipment manufacturing industry go to work to make the equipment that builds, powers and feeds the world. These are the Americans who help move the United States’ $288 billion equipment manufacturing economy forward, but they cannot do it alone. I Make America, AEM’s national grassroots advocacy campaign, provides a platform for every supporter to raise their voice and make a difference. Today, I Make America unveiled its “Faces of Manufacturing” initiative, which spotlights the men and women behind the equipment and serves as a rallying cry for pro-manufacturing policies. The centerpiece is a 90-second video featuring more than 20 equipment manufacturing workers from 6 member companies urging their peers to speak with one united voice and tell elected officials to “create jobs, grow the economy, and keep the industry strong.” This video will be showcased as part of the 2022 I Make America – Explained tour held both digitally and in-person at member company facilities. This year's tour is designed to reengage our members to deepen their understanding of advocacy and the importance of grassroots engagement. Help us spread the movement - watch the video below and share it on social media!
For more than a decade, I Make America has empowered its supporters to advocate for the policies that will keep the U.S. equipment manufacturing industry strong and workers employed, accomplishing this through facility visits and various online digital campaigns. The “Faces of Manufacturing” video was shot on location at Astec (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Case IH (Racine, Wis.), Husco (Waukesha, Wis.), Komatsu America Corporation (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Kondex Corporation (Lomira, Wis.) and Miller Formless (McHenry, Ill).
In 2022, I Make America continues to elevate the voices of the industry to decision makers at the local, state and federal level and helps ensure pro-manufacturing policies are considered. Policies like the Bipartisan Innovation Act (BIA), the global competition bill Congress is actively negotiating, will help grow and strengthen the equipment manufacturing industry and I Make America will be there every step of the way. But we cannot do it without your support! If your legislator is on the BIA conference committee, consider sending them a letter and ask that they support our industry by clicking here!
Engaging with elected officials does not just have to be through letters, tweets and emails – you can host them at your facility too! We have already had the honor of hosting and meeting with several elected officials at facilities this year, including North Carolina Lt. Gov Mark Robinson, U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), and look forward to welcoming more officials as the year continues. We are always looking for new facilities and member companies to host members of Congress, governors, members of the President’s cabinet and other elected officials so they can get a firsthand look at the impact our industry makes in communities across the country. Let us know if we can count on your support and add your facility to that growing list.
You can stay engaged with I Make America on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To get involved in AEM’s grassroots campaign, please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions you may have at wbalkonis@aem.org.
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