Skip to main content

US manufacturers urge Obama to invest in infrastructure

A senior US equipment manufacturing figure has urged President Barack Obama to create an infrastructure programme that will help the country compete globally.
March 22, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
A senior US equipment manufacturing figure has urged President Barack Obama to create an infrastructure programme that will help the country compete globally. Dennis Slater, president of the 1100 Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), said it was time for Congress and the Administration to pass a fully-funded highway bill, instead of looking at “more short-term stop gap measures”. His call came after President Obama used a section of his State of the Union speech to speak of a “huge” opportunity at the current time to “bring manufacturing back” to America. “There is no one piece of legislation now before Congress that could do more to immediately create jobs and sharpen U.S. competitiveness than the highway bill,” said Mr Slater. “Instead of long-term reauthorisation of funds to pay for much needed investment in our crumbling roads and bridges, Congress has kicked the can down the road eight different times, passing yet another six-month extension. As our global competitors know, 21st century roads and bridges are not made six months at a time.” Mr Slater, whose AEM membership comprises more than 850 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture, construction, forestry, mining and utility sectors worldwide, also urged the President to reconsider his decision on the Keystone XL pipeline. He added: "America’s future depends on economic growth and energy security, and we cannot afford to reject the tremendous potential for both that large-scale, strategic infrastructure projects such as Keystone represent. On the jobs front alone, the pipeline would create more than 120,000 jobs, including more than 20,000 high-wage jobs in the construction and manufacturing industries where the unemployment rate is staggering. "Americans deserve more than just talk, they want jobs and a crucial investment in our global competitiveness.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Stiffer road surfaces could save billions in fuel say US researchers
    January 6, 2017
    There are fears that President Barack Obama is overlooking the benefits of good highway design following his recent announcement that he plans to impose higher fuel efficiency standards for medium and heavy-duty trucks by 2016.
  • Stiffer road surfaces could save billions in fuel say US researchers
    February 27, 2014
    There are fears that President Barack Obama is overlooking the benefits of good highway design following his recent announcement that he plans to impose higher fuel efficiency standards for medium and heavy-duty trucks by 2016.
  • LiuGong closes Dressta deal
    March 21, 2012
    Chinese manufacturer LiuGong Machinery has finalised its agreement to acquire Polish firm HSW (Huta Stalowa Wola) and its distribution subsidiary, Dressta. The agreement was signed by executives from both companies in Warsaw.
  • Chinese firms embrace CONNEXPO-CON/AGG 2017
    March 21, 2017
    Chinese construction manufacturers were out in full force at the recent CONEXPO/CON-AGG 2017 in Las Vegas. Nearly 130 original equipment manufacturers and their supply Chinese supply chain component makers were represented – the most at any previous CONEXPO/CONAGG event. OEMs included XCMG, Sany, Zoomlion, Shantui, Sunward, LiuGong and SDLG. Nick Yaksich, senior vice-president of AEM – the US’s Association of Equipment Manufacturers and which organised the event - said the large Chinese contingent