Aluminum Association to Participate in NAM's Coalition for the Future of Manufacturing in US

Published: February 06, 2004, By PRESS RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC, USA—The Aluminum Association Inc. (AAI) reports it will participate in what it is calling "an extraordinary initiative" developed by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). AAI says it will join NAM on Capitol Hill next week to educate policymakers about the importance of manufacturing to the US economy's future.

NAM's Coalition for the Future of Manufacturing is sponsoring the "Manufacturing: Making America's Future" forum, slated for next Tuesday and Wednesday (February 10 and 11, 2004), which will take place on Capitol Hill. "Promoting the importance of manufacturing with policymakers and opinion leaders is crucial to aluminum-producing companies and their suppliers, both domestically and internationally," says AAI president J. Stephen Larkin. "NAM's coalition is a perfect medium to communicate our membership's voice to legislators, who, ultimately, can reduce non-production costs such as health care, legal liability, and high corporate tax rates. The forthcoming group fly-in will provide an ideal opportunity for AAI to assist its members and other manufacturers in the global marketplace," he adds.

In recent months, manufacturing has emerged as a major political and policy issue among primary and secondary aluminum producers and their supplying companies, says AAI. Among the problems AAI reports its members are experiencing:

• loss of jobs and export potential

• diminshed capital investment and research and development expenditures

• lack of skilled workers

• rising business costs

AAI adds it has assumed a strong leadership role in government-relations activities at NAM, and it's urging its members to join the Coalition for the Future of Manufacturing and to help promote government policies that will benefit their businesses. More information about the coalition can be found at bipac.net/page.asp?g=NAM_CFM&content=Forum:_Forum_and _Fly_In&parent=NAM_CFM.

Visit the Aluminum Association Inc. at aluminum.org. Learn more about the National Association of Manufacturers at nam.org.

For more PFFC coverage about the problems facing the manufacturing sector—and the converting segments of it—read the two-part series Considering China at pffc-online.com/ar/paper_considering_china/index.htm.