Congressman Paul Tonko today said he will continue to fight for new legislation that will boost manufacturing, increase American competitiveness globally and create new jobs for middle class workers. Congressman Tonko is working with colleagues in the House on a legislative agenda called “Make it in America,” which will help American manufacturers through tax credits, new incentives for job creation in clean energy, and other measures. Tonko made that pledge during a tour of X-ray Optical Systems (XOS) in East Greenbush, the first of several visits he will be making to highlight to work of local manufacturers over the next few weeks.
 
“If we are going to heal our broken economy, we need to find ways to help manufacturers grow and create good paying, American jobs,” said Congressman Tonko. “X-ray Optical exemplifies the type of company that can create these jobs -- through research and innovation, XOS has become a global leader in x-ray optics, and makes equipment that it exports to businesses that operate in countries around the world, including China. We can build on the success here and move forward with an agenda that will help manufacturers create jobs, and ensure America continues to remain strong in the world economy.”
 
During the past decade, 4.6 million American manufacturing jobs have been lost, 1/3 of the total manufacturing jobs in the U.S. As a result, Congressman Tonko is working with colleagues in Congress to increase manufacturing, help create the high-skill, high-wage jobs of the future, and promote American competitiveness, innovation and exports. This strategy includes:

Providing tax credits to help businesses hire new employees and sell their products and innovation overseas
Boost incentives to create American clean energy jobs
Force other countries to honor fair trade principles
Strengthen partnerships with businesses to retrain America’s workers for jobs of the future
Several bills to assist manufacturers have passed the House this summer, including the National Manufacturing Strategy Act that directs the president to work with industry and state leaders to construct a strategy every four years that will boost manufacturing — similar to plans in place in many other countries, including China. The House also passed the U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act, which makes it cheaper for American companies to obtain the materials they need to manufacture goods.

Congressman Tonko has introduced the Small Business Innovation to Job Creation Act, which would create a grant program that would help small businesses, such as XOS, bring innovations developed through research to manufacturing and the market.

“Congressman Tonko is a strong advocate for U.S. Manufacturing,” said David Gibson, CEO of XOS. “Manufacturing leading-edge products brings money from other countries to the U.S., creating and protecting jobs, increasing earnings for American workers in manufacturing and service industries, improving our balance of trade, and providing the industrial base that supports military strength for protecting our way of life. American companies and universities are the best in the world at inventing solutions to important problems; and the Federal government has supported this in many ways. Congressman Tonko recognized an opportunity to use this U.S. strength to improve our manufacturing strength. He and Senator Chuck Schumer introduced a bill, the Small Business Innovation to Job Creation Act, to aid in taking cutting-edge research invested in by the government and converting that research to protectable high-quality U.S. manufacturing jobs. This is exactly the kind of move that will produce sustainable jobs in the U.S. now.”

XOS is a global leader in the manufacture of equipment and tools that detect contaminants and toxins in products ranging from petroleum to toys. The company, which employs 75 people, exports its products to companies overseas including China and the U.K.