Industry and Union Coalition Outlines Policy Recommendations in Letters to President Biden, Congress

By NCTO

This press release was published January 29, 2021. SPESA is a member of the industry coalition referenced.

WASHINGTON—A broad coalition of industry organizations and labor unions, representing a broad spectrum of manufacturers and workers who stepped up to make essential PPE and other products throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, sent letters today to President Biden and congressional leaders outlining recommendations on specific policy initiatives that must be adopted to re-establish a permanent PPE industry in the United States.

“The heroic efforts of the U.S. textile industry and its exemplary workforce throughout this crisis clearly demonstrate that domestic industry has the technical capabilities and capacity to make the United States self-sufficient in terms of our national PPE needs. However, the permanence of this [industry] is dependent on the development of government policies designed to help domestic manufacturers survive the current economic crisis and incentivize the long-term investment needed to bring PPE production back onshore. If appropriate policies are not implemented, the valuable and substantial progress made over the past year to onshore a vibrant PPE industry will evaporate in the face of China’s global manufacturing dominance in the PPE sector.”

The associations are requesting that President Biden and Congress adopt the policy recommendations outlined in the letters through legislation, executive order and other appropriate means.

The coalition sent a letter to President Biden and a second letter to Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) outlining these requests.

Read the letters here:

• Industry Labor Letter COVID Relief to Congress

• Industry Labor Letter COVID Relief to President Biden

The letters were signed by the following organizations:

• National Council of Textile Organizations

• AFL-CIO

• Coalition for a Prosperous America

• Georgia Association of Manufacturers

• Hand Tools Institute

• INDA: Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

• National Cotton Council

• Narrow Fabrics Institute

• Parachute Industry Association

• Rhode Island Textile Innovation Network

• SEAMS: Association of the U.S. Sewn Products Industry

• SPESA: Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the Americas

• South Carolina Textile Council

• U.S. Industrial Fabrics Institute

• United States Footwear Manufacturers Association

• United Steelworkers

• Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition

• Workers United/SEIU

Press contacts for the industry coalition members are available here.

Additional Reading:

• Senator Brown, Representative Manning Call On Biden Administration To Prioritize American Manufacturers, Help Bolster Domestic PPE Production

• NCTO Issues Statement On President Biden’s “Made In America” Executive Order And Launches Video Campaign In Support Of Strengthening American Manufacturing