Create an Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services to serve as chief advocate for the manufacturing sector and implement recommendations

Created an Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing – Al Frink, a manufacturer, serves as the point person for American Manufacturing, and an advocate for America’s businesses and workers.
Link: http://trade.gov/mas/index.asp
Date Implemented: August, 2004

Create an Office of Industry Analysis to assess the cost competitiveness of American industry and evaluate the impact of domestic and international economic policy on U.S. competitiveness

Created an Office of Industry Analysis – to assess the cost competitiveness of American industry and evaluate the impact of domestic (e.g. regulatory costs) and international economic policy on U.S. competitiveness.
Link: http://ita.doc.gov/td/industry/otea/
Date Implemented: March, 2005

Establish the Manufacturing Council to foster coordination and communication among U.S. Industry and the Federal Government

Designated manufacturing Chief Executive Officer’s to help keep the government continuously focused on priority manufacturing issues, thus elevating private sector involvement in policy making.
Link: http://www.manufacturing.gov/council/index.asp?dName=council      
Date Implemented: June, 2004

Establish an interagency working group on manufacturing to coordinate the implementation of recommendations and the development of new initiatives

Establish an interagency committee to coordinate the implementation of the recommendations, and the development of new initiatives.
Link: http://www.manufacturing.gov/interagency/interagency.asp?dName=interagency
Date Implemented: June, 2005

Promote Health Savings Accounts as established in the 2003 Medicare bill

Health savings accounts (HSAs) were established in the Medicare prescription drug bill signed by the President on December 8, 2003. HSAs combine high-deductible health insurance plans with tax-free savings accounts that can be used to pay for medical expenses incurred by employees and their families. HSAs provide an incentive to save for future healthcare needs.
Link: Fact Sheet:
Health Savings Account: http://www.treas.gov/offices/public-affairs/hsa/pdf/fact-sheet-dramatic-growth.pdf       
Date Implemented: April, 2004

Implement New Technologies, such as bar coding and electronic prescribing, to prevent costly medical errors

For the Food and Drug Administration to issue a new rule requiring certain human drug and biological product labels to have bar codes. The rule will help reduce the number of medication errors in hospitals and other health care settings
Link: http://www.fda.gov/cber/gdlns/barcode.htm
Date Implemented: April, 2004

Enact Class Action reform

Legislation to Modernize the U.S. Legal System to Eliminate Disincentives to Invest in Manufacturing
Date Implemented: February, 2005

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to lead a comprehensive three-step process to reduce the burden of regulations

1) establish an inventory of regulations; 2) analyze inventory; and 3) apply analysis to new rules
Link: http://ita.doc.gov/td/industry/otea/OCEA/OCEA-read-anal.html
Date Implemented: September, 2004

Pass the President's Energy Plan

Legislation to enact a comprehensive energy plan that encourages conservation, improves infrastructure, and expands domestic production.
Link: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ058.109.pdf
Date Implemented: August, 2005

Enact legislation to enable modernization and increased reliability of electricity production & transmission

Congress to modernize the legal framework governing electricity production and transmission to lessen the chance of blackouts and ensure affordable and increased electricity supplies.
Link: Energy Policy Act of 2005: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ058.109.pdf
Date Implemented: August, 2005

Enact legislation to facilitate adequate and economical supplies of natural gas

Congress should facilitate adequate and economical supplies of natural gas by eliminating the regulatory obstacles to the development of natural gas resources on federal land and to the construction of liquefied natural gas terminals and other infrastructure, simplify the permit process and facilitate the construction of an economically viable natural gas pipeline from Alaska, and encourage additional deepwell gas development on the outer continental shelf.
Link: Energy Policy Act of 2005: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ058.109.pdf
Date Implemented: August, 2005

Fund the hydrogen fuel initiative

In his State of the Union address, President Bush announced a $1.2 billion hydrogen fuel initiative to reverse America's growing dependence on foreign oil by developing the technology for commercially viable hydrogen-powered fuel cells to power cars, trucks, homes and businesses with no pollution or greenhouse gases. The hydrogen fuel initiative will include $720 million in new funding over the next five years to develop the technologies and infrastructure to produce, store, and distribute hydrogen for use in fuel cell vehicles and electricity generation. Combined with the FreedomCAR (Cooperative Automotive Research) initiative, President Bush is proposing a total of $1.7 billion over the next five years to develop hydrogen-powered fuel cells, hydrogen infrastructure and advanced automotive technologies.
Link: Fact Sheet:
Hydrogen Fuel a Clean and Secure Energy Future: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030206-2.html
Energy Policy Act of 2005: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ058.109.pdf
Date Implemented: August, 2005

Review of current R&D programs important to manufacturing to ensure appropriate focus on innovation and productivity-enhancing technologies

A need of a review of current federal R&D programs important to manufacturing, to ensure that there is an appropriate focus on innovation and productivity-enhancing technologies.  The review should consider the need for additional investment in core R&D programs for generic technologies, engineering, and the physical sciences, especially in interdisciplinary scientific endeavors.
Date Implemented: July, 2005

Establish a new interagency working group on manufacturing R&D and prioritize future federal support to Advanced Manufacturing Technology

Establish a new interagency working group within the NSTC as a forum for developing consensus and resolving issues associated with manufacturing R&D policy, programs, and budget guidance and direction.
Link: http://www.manufacturing.gov/interagency/interagency_MRDIWG.asp?dName=IWGRD
Date Implemented: May, 2004

Expand the reach of programs providing technical assistance to standards agencies, national metrology institutes, and regional metrology organizations in the developing world

Expanding the reach of programs providing tech assistance to standards agencies, national metrology institutes, and regional metrology organizations in the developing world, especially in export markets.
Link: http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/standards/
Date Implemented: April, 2005

Coordinate Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) fully with other Department of Commerce programs

MEP’s nationwide network serves to promote lean manufacturing techniques such as zero-defect quality programs. The program makes it possible for even the smallest firms to tap into specialists from across the country with manufacturing and business expertise in plant operations and on manufacturing floors.
Link: http://www.mep.nist.gov/
Date Implemented: August, 2004

Encourage the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs (STTR) to focus on Manufacturing

SBIR and STTR should place a higher priority on manufacturing R&D topics that would greatly leverage innovation in small and medium-size manufacturing companies.
Date Implemented: August, 2004

Explore the establishment of cooperative research programs on manufacturing technologies among national laboratories, universities, the SBIR program, community colleges and state and local technology development associations

The importance of standards in manufacturing will only increase with the demands to ensure that standards with a potential to affect the access of U.S. manufacturers to markets around the world are set objectively, based on sound science. NIST should expand the reach of programs designed to provide technical assistance to standards agencies, national metrology institutes, and regional metrology organizations in the developing world, particularly in significant potential export markets.
Date Implemented: March, 2005

Create an interagency federal task force to address the structural economic challenges facing manufacturing communities

Date Implemented: May, 2005

Press for the elimination of barriers to trade in financial services in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other trade agreements

Date Implemented: January, 2005

Pursue elimination of foreign tariff and non-tariff barriers for exports of U.S. manufactured goods

Pursuing the elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers, particularly in industries such as the automotive sector.
Date Implemented: January, 2005

Aggressively investigate allegations of intellectual property theft

Aggressively investigate allegations of IP theft, especially where manufacturers are required to release information as a condition for market access/investment.
Date Implemented: June, 2004

Promote the protection of US intellectual property by expanding cooperative efforts with other countries

Expand cooperative efforts with developing countries and other trade partners to enhance protection of U.S. intellectual property. Includes placement of USG IP experts in various countries.
Date Implemented: June, 2004

Establish an office of Investigations and Compliance within the Department of Commerce

Established an Office of Investigations and Compliance – to ensure that our trading partners honor their commitments.
Date Implemented: June, 2004

Establish a task force within the Department of Commerce Import Administration to investigate allegations of foreign unfair trade practices

Established an Unfair Trade Practices Task Force – to go on the offensive, and attack the underlying causes of unfair trade.
Date Implemented: March, 2004

Establish an office to coordinate China and non-market economy investigations

Created a China/Non-Market Economy Enforcement Office – to provide more consistent and expert enforcement of our import-related trade laws to prevent unfair trade practices specifically by China.
Date Implemented: July, 2004

Consolidate export functions under a new Assistant Secretary for Trade Promotion

Appointed a New Assistant Secretary for Trade Promotion – Consolidated all export promotion functions under this position to also serve as a strong advocate to help U.S. manufacturers open new markets and increase exports.
Date Implemented: August, 2004

Accelerate the implementation of the President's National Export Strategy

Accelerate Implementation of National Export Strategy Recommendations - Continue development of FTA promotion strategies to help small manufacturers access new opportunities in FTA markets.
Date Implemented: October, 2004

Implement a joint public-private global supply chain initiative to promote access by America's Small and Medium sized manufacturers

To develop supply chain initiative that promotes improved access by small and medium sized manufacturers.
Date Implemented: June, 2005

Promote the global recognition and use of U.S. technical standards

To encourage the adoption of U.S. technical standards in world markets for manufactured goods.
Link: http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/standards/
Date Implemented: May, 2004

Review the existing structure of the U.S. foreign trade zone program

To perform a benchmark analysis of the U.S. FTZ program and zone programs abroad; to identify features of foreign zone programs that we could implement, particularly to reduce the cost of using FTZ procedures for small and medium-sized manufacturers.
Date Implemented: August, 2004

Conduct a Treasury study of tax simplification focusing on manufacturing, including depreciation, the corporate alternative minimum tax

On November 1, the President’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform released a report that recommended both a Simplified Income Tax Plan and a Growth and Investment Tax Plan. The 'Simple, Fair and Pro-Growth: Proposals to Fix America's Tax System' Report, submitted to Secretary of the Treasury John Snow, signifies the implementation of one of the Recommendations in the Manufacturing in America Report ('Undertake a Study of Tax Simplification').
Link: http://www.taxreformpanel.gov/final-report/TaxReform_Intro.pdf
Date Implemented: November, 2005

Enact legislation on pension reform including improving

The bipartisan Pension Protection Act represents the most sweeping overhaul to U.S. pension laws in more than 30 years.  The bill fixes outdated pension rules that no longer serve the interests of workers and retirees who are counting on their retirement.
Link: Pension Protection Act of 2006: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ280.109.pdf
Date Implemented: August, 2006

Pass legislation creating a coordinated high schools and technical education improvement program

The Perkins Act provides more than $1.2 billion in federal support for career and technical education programs in all 50 States. It also reauthorizes federal career and technical education programs which were last reauthorized in 1998.
Link: Amendment: The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ270.109.pdf
Date Implemented: August, 2006

Lead a Benchmark Analysis to Measure Progress toward Achieving the President's Goal

Completed a paper that establishes the framework for benchmarking business competitiveness.  Framework is unique in that it is a three-tier pyramidal approach to analysis: begins by examining competitiveness at the company level, followed by industry competitiveness, and culminating at the national/international stage where economy-wide activities are taken into account.
Link: http://ita.doc.gov/td/otea/papertobepostedifauthorized
Date Implemented: January 2007

Conduct Regulatory Impact Analysis of New Rules (or Reduce the Costs of Regulation and Legislation)

Initiated and completed several rule reviews that impact manufacturing competitiveness using newly developed analytical tools.  Target is to maintain an active rule review portfolio that provides information and analysis to reduce regulatory compliance costs for industry by $350 million annually.
Link: http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/industry/OTEA/OCEA/OCEA-read-anal.html
Date Implemented: January 2007