I Make America March Recap

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) announced that it will hit the road this summer to tell the story of the U.S. equipment manufacturing industry and celebrate the 2.3 million men and women who help build, power, and feed the world. The “AEM Manufacturing Express” will launch on July 1, 2024, at Weiler, Inc. in Knoxville, Iowa and travel across the country through October when it will wrap up with a finale event at Komatsu in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The tour will visit more than 20 states, with stops planned at more than 80 equipment manufacturers in communities across the Midwest, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic. Read more...

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers is advancing it's pro-manufacturing policy agenda in 2024. AEM and I Make America work to shape policy at the state, federal, and international levels to ensure that equipment manufacturers can continue to do what they do best: invest in their communities, grow their businesses, and hire more Americans. The 2024 agenda includes a number of policy priorities that will help strengthen the U.S. economy and move the industry forward. Read more...

Check out what we've been up to in March below!

🚧 Workforce funding: I Make America supporters are rallying around expanding workforce funding for trade programs and apprenticeships. The needs of the U.S. workforce are ever-evolving, and we must urge legislators to support the expansion of federal Pell Grants to students who are enrolled in programs that are 8 weeks or longer. Tell legislators to invest in workforce!

⚖️ National infrastructure update: President Biden visited Superior, Wisconsin, near the border of Minnesota, to announce close to $5 billion in new infrastructure projects across the nation using funds from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA) that passed in 2021, which was supported by AEM. Tell legislators to invest in our nation's infrastructure!

⚖️ Indiana legislative recap: The Indiana legislative session adjourned in mid-March. From workforce solutions to childcare and rural broadband, a lot was covered! Work will continue with lawmakers throughout 2024 leading up to the 2025 session to ensure that Indiana passes policies that strengthen and grow the equipment manufacturing industry.

🚜 National Biodiesel Day and National Ag Day: March held both National Ag Day and National Biodiesel Day! We celebrated on social media, and acknowledged the massive impact that agriculture has on our everyday lives.

State Legislation Update

Illinois
The Illinois legislature is looking to help tackle the state’s workforce shortage in the manufacturing industry. Rep. Amy Elik (R-Alton) introduced HB 4670, which would create a pilot program to allow 10 manufacturers to open on-site childcare centers at no cost to their employees.

South Carolina 
To conserve the agricultural community amidst a tremendous population growth, the South Carolina legislature passed H.B. 3951. This legislation created the “Working Farmland Preservation Act,” which is a conservation easement program that will permanently protect working commercial farmlands by providing annual funding from the state. 

West Virginia
To address their workforce shortages, the West Virginia legislature has passed House Bill 5162. This bill expands the eligibility to participate in an apprenticeship program by lowering the minimum eligibility age to 16 years old. 

"We are part of the 2.3 million jobs in the manufacturing industry. We machine, fabricate, assemble, and service innovative parts and equipment toward building safer material handling outcomes. We need policies to help us stay competitive and to continue to do research and development so we can create even better ideas to introduce into the markets."

- Bill S., I Make America Supporter 

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