Senator Baldwin Votes to Boost Domestic Manufacturing, Invest in Workforce Development, and Fund Regional Tech Hubs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin voted to fund key provisions of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 that will help develop regional technology hubs, invest in the workforce needed for the future of manufacturing, and support Wisconsin’s manufacturers in the bipartisan 2023 fiscal year appropriations legislation that President Biden signed into law.

“Wisconsin has a long and proud tradition of manufacturing, and I am proud to help deliver resources to position our state to continue that legacy into the future,” said Senator Baldwin. “I voted for this legislation because it will support our manufacturers avoid disruptions and reach new markets, help train and educate the advanced manufacturing workforce of tomorrow, and move our Made in Wisconsin economy forward. Wisconsin has strong potential to be a growth center because we have world-class research universities, a second-to-none Made in Wisconsin manufacturing workforce, and leaders in emerging industries, and I am excited to see the Badger State be at the center of the next generation of innovation and manufacturing.”

In addition to helping pass the CHIPS and Science Act, Senator Baldwin worked to secure significant investments to support the implementation of the legislation, including joining 17 of her colleagues in calling on the Biden Administration to fund key programs to boost domestic manufacturing and research. Senator Baldwin helped deliver:

• $500 million for Regional Technology Hubs that will help the United States develop new technology, create jobs, and expand innovation, a provision modeled off a Brookings Institute report that identified Madison, WI as a top destination for a regional hub.
• $188 million for Manufacturing USA Institutes to strengthen education and workforce development activities by creating up to ten new institutes in critical manufacturing fields, such as aviation, energy, healthcare, and agriculture.
• $51 million to support the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) to equip small and medium-sized manufacturers with the resources needed to grow and thrive. This funding will help MEP create a National Supply Chain Database to assist businesses with supplier scouting and minimize disruptions.

As Chair of the Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change, and Manufacturing, Senator Baldwin recently led a hearing in which she heard from Wisconsin based manufacturers, Husco and Rockwell Automation, about the success of the MEP to help them reach new markets and clients and the need for continued support for the program. 

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