“Texas manufacturers today applaud Chairman Ritter and Speaker Straus for placing Texas’ water needs high on the agenda this session.  Our entire economy depends on swift and appropriate action to address the state’s water needs.  We need to ensure that Texans in all climate regions across our diverse state can count on adequate water resources for the future. House Bills 4 and 11 represent a serious response to a critical need.”  

– Tony Bennett, President, Texas Association of Manufacturers

San Antonio Express-News/Houston Chronicle
Group has three main legislative priorities
By David Hendricks
October 28, 2012

http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/business_columnists/david_hendricks/article/Group-has-three-main-legislative-priorities-3985316.php

Texas manufacturing shows a lot of momentum and optimism as Tony Bennett takes over as president of the 450-member Texas Association of Manufacturers in Austin.

The oil-and-gas industry is growing the fastest, surging as drilling in South Texas' Eagle Ford Shale and the Permian Basin are helping keep manufacturers of petrochemicals and petroleum products busy.

Bennett was a Texas Association of Manufacturers co-founder in 2005 and served as its first chairman. His 33-year business career includes serving as a former executive at Temple-Inland. As the association's top staff person, Bennett is eyeing the organization's priorities for the 2013 Texas legislative session.

Skills development, taxation, incentives and water top his list.

On skills development: The association would like the Legislature to tweak its mandatory high school math and science curriculum requirements so that manufacturing skills are worked into classes, especially for students who do not plan to attend college, Bennett said.

More flexibility could reduce dropout rates, he said. “There's lots of experimentation (in education and training programs) in and out of Texas,” Bennett said. “The Legislature will hold hearings on this.

“Manufacturing jobs are high-paying and have great benefits,” Bennett said. “For each manufacturing job, 2.5 service-sector jobs are created.”

Bennett is correct.

Read more at http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/business_columnists/david_hendricks/article/Group-has-three-main-legislative-priorities-3985316.php

TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS NAMES BENNETT
AS TRADE GROUP’S NEW PRESIDENT

Bennett Brings Unparalleled Depth of Experience,
Vision and Drive to Tackle Industry’s Most Pressing Public Policy Concerns

AUSTIN, TEXAS – A manufacturing industry executive with wide ranging public policy experience, Tony Bennett will take the reins of the Texas Association of Manufacturers as its new president, the group’s board announced today.

“In Tony Bennett, we have found a president who fully appreciates the challenges and opportunities the manufacturing industry faces, including energy, tax, environment, transportation, workforce development and tort issues,” said Bill Oswald, Chairman of TAM. “While the manufacturing sector is on the rise in Texas, the Texas Association of Manufacturers knows the economic recovery is tenuous and fragile at best. Under Tony’s capable watch and leadership, TAM and its members will be positioned for long-term success.”

Bennett’s new position as president of the manufacturing trade association is also a homecoming of sorts. In 2005, Bennett served as the founding chairman of TAM, leading the industry’s efforts to establish a unified voice for the state’s manufacturing industry concerns at the Texas Capitol and in Washington, DC.

“There’s work to be done if we are to maintain Texas’ world-renowned dominance as a job creating powerhouse with one of the best business climates in the world,” said Bennett. “I’m ready to lead TAM forward and provide the necessary voice, vision and action our industry needs to succeed.”

“The manufacturing sector, which employs more than 838,000 Texans who earn on average 34 percent more than the rest of the Texas workforce, can continue to play a key role in our state’s and nation’s recovery,” Bennett added. “But, we need reliable access to affordable energy, a reasonable regulatory framework, a ready workforce, sound tax policy, and critical infrastructure to get the job done.”

In the upcoming Texas Legislative Session, TAM will continue to pursue an aggressive, expansive agenda, ensuring the collective voice of its 450-plus members of large and small companies from every industry sector is heard. Among the association’s key public policy priorities are to:

• Preserve policy that keeps electricity affordable and ensures energy reliability;
• Defend against excessive taxation on capital intensive businesses;
• Advocate for educational rigor and flexibility to prepare the workforce Texas needs;
• Protect smart-minded, nationally-recognized tort reforms that limit liability and curb frivolous lawsuits; and
• Preserve Texas’ ability to attract and retain national and international manufacturing investments.

Bennett’s professional career spans 33 years in key federal, state and local government and public affairs. As a former executive at Temple-Inland, Bennett brings first-hand knowledge of the manufacturing industry’s government affairs and public policy concerns. In addition to being a co-founder of TAM in 2005, Bennett led the creation of the Texas Forest Industries Council in 1995 and has held leadership positions in a number of key manufacturing sector associations.

Connect with Bennett and the Texas Association of Manufacturers online at www.manufacturetexas.org, on Facebook (TXManufacturers) and on Twitter (@TxManufacturers).

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The Texas Association of Manufacturers (TAM) represents over 450 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 and Twitter (@TxManufacturers).

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August, 27, 2012
CONTACT: Gretchen Fox, 512-694-4326

Secretary Hillary Clinton
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520

RE: Comments on Presidential Permit Application for Keystone XL

Dear Secretary Clinton:

On behalf of the Texas Association of Manufacturers, I am writing in support of TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL pipeline. Keystone XL will be critical to improving American energy security and boosting our economy. Therefore, we believe the U.S. Department of State must expeditiously approve the Presidential Permit necessary for this project to move forward.

Keystone XL has undergone one of the most thorough environmental assessments ever conducted. After concluding a three-year National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review, the State Department affirmed in its Final Environmental Impact Statement in August 2011 that the project would not pose any significant impact to the environment. Included in its assessment, the agency also noted that TransCanada agreed to an additional 57 safety requirements, which will make this pipeline the safest every constructed and operated in the United States.

As the State Department seeks to reevaluate the environmental impact of the pipeline, I strongly urge the agency to examine only those new issues that are associated with the re-route through Nebraska. The full range of environmental impacts of the pipeline has been thoroughly evaluated previously, and no reason exists to expand the scope of the next NEPA review to include other issues not associated with the Nebraska re-route. If the State Department were to unnecessarily broaden the scope of its second review beyond the Nebraska re-route, the agency will only delay the project and the many benefiys it will bring without cause.

The project will drive incredible economic growth in the United States. The pipeline is expected to create nearly 20,000 manufacturing and construction jobs in the United States, contributing over $585 million in state and local taxes and more than 13,000 jobs in states along the pipeline route in the construction phase alone. Here in Texas, benefits are expected to include $2.3 billion in new spending for the state’s economy, a personal income increase of $1.6 billion, over $48 million in additional state and local tax revenues, and $1.9 billion in increased Gross State Product. Furthermore, all American consumers will benefit from a greater supply of stable, affordable energy.

By supporting domestic production and oil imports from our ally Canada instead of politically unstable countries, we will strengthen both our national security and energy security. Access to affordable, stable supplies of petroleum remains one of the most vital components for a growing economy. However, the uncertainty about long-term supplies is quickly becoming a critical issue that the United States must confront. With global demand steadily rising and political instability spreading throughout oil-exporting nations, the United States must permit Keystone XL as a means to boost our energy security and ensure adequate supplies for American consumers.

In closing, the Texas Association of Manufacturers believes that construction of the Keystone XL pipeline is in the best interest of all Americans. We respectfully request that the Department of State expeditiously review the new route through Nebraska, utilize the existing environmental analysis from the project’s Final EIS, and ultimately grant TransCanada the Presidential Permit necessary to begin building the pipeline.

Sincerely,
Stephanie Simpson
Interim Executive Director/Director of Operations
Texas Association of Manufacturers