Austin, TX – The following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address may be attributed to Fred Shannon, chairman of the Texas Association of Manufacturers

“President Obama is right to acknowledge that manufacturing is key to a strong American economy. As the largest exporter of manufactured goods, Texas is critical to the engine that will propel the much-needed U.S. economic recovery.

“To ensure manufacturers in Texas and across the U.S. are able to deliver the nation into an enhanced and sustained economic recovery, policy must match the rhetoric, and it is imperative that we have access to reliable, affordable energy, a ready workforce with skilled workers for the jobs of today and tomorrow, and smart incentives to fuel American innovation, research and development.

“Here in Texas, House Speaker Joe Straus made manufacturing a priority in the interim charges lawmakers will consider this year. Our state lawmakers can contribute tremendously by removing barriers to investment, promoting affordable energy, injecting flexibility into workforce education, and encouraging innovation in manufacturing.

“And, in turn, we can hope that the federal government follows the Lone Star State’s lead in creating a pro-jobs, pro-manufacturing climate that puts people to work and America on the path to a robust recovery.”
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The Texas Association of Manufacturers (TAM) represents over 400 large and small companies from every manufacturing sector, employing more than 838,000 Texans with an average compensation of $79,000 a year (the highest in the private sector). Texas Association of Manufacturers is online at www.manufacturetexas.org. Join TAM on Facebook.com/TXManufacturers.