Today, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports that the Trans Mountain pipeline project in Canada will begin its expansion west, creating thousands of jobs during its construction and operation. Manufacturers continue to scratch our heads and wonder why the U.S. can’t get its act together and approve the Keystone XL pipeline — which would not only create thousands of jobs but would give us access to affordable energy from a neighboring ally.

With Washington putting politics before sound policy on Keystone XL, it has left Canadian officials looking to other markets for crude. According to the WSJ: 

Canadian oil executives have sought to open new markets for their crude, especially after the White House rejected the Keystone XL project. The pipeline became ensnared in a political battle in Washington, with environmental groups and many Democrats opposing the pipeline. Republicans embraced it as a way to bolster energy security and create jobs.

Manufacturers need affordable, reliable energy to compete in the global marketplace, and by continuing to miss out on opportunities to have access to energy sources from allies, we only jeopardize our nation’s national security. In manufacturers’ eyes, with the development of the oil sands in Canada, our nation is missing the opportunity of a lifetime.

Aric Newhouse is senior vice president of policy and government relations, National Association of Manufacturers.

Today we heard from President Obama about his plan to reorganize several federal agencies – many of which are critical to manufacturers and their ability to create and retain jobs.

Changes would include combining the Small Business Administration, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Export-Import Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency into a single department in an effort to improve government efficiency and to help promote business. The key question in reviewing this proposal is will it help manufacturers compete, export, invest and create jobs?

Any changes that are considered must focus on improving intellectual property protection, opening markets for exports, improving market access, and more. Additionally, while manufacturers have done well in leaning their processes to improve their competitiveness and would vigorously support the federal government doing the same in this difficult debt and deficit environment, the agencies affected must continue to have the necessary resources to meet their missions.

If the streamlining and efficiency undertaken in this proposed combination of agencies will mean that manufacturers will have less intellectual property protection, for example, it would be a devastating mistake. If, on the other hand, this leaning process will mean doing more with less, it would be a great step forward.

As policymakers respond to the President’s proposals today, we are hopeful that the discussion centers on the key question for manufacturers – will they be better able to compete, export, invest and create jobs as a result? With a 20 percent cost disadvantage already, manufacturers will deeply care about the impact these proposals will have on their ability to compete.

Aric Newhouse is senior vice president for policy and government relations, National Association of Manufacturers.

In February, job growth in the manufacturing industry showed promise by adding 33,000 jobs, but also revealed areas where uncertainty has a dampening effect on job creation. Manufacturers still have a long, long way to go in the economic recovery.    

For the second straight month the vast majority of manufacturing jobs created in February were in the durable goods sector.

Manufacturers are concerned by a number of factors including higher energy prices, misguided federal regulations, and policies that do not support global competitiveness. Policymakers need to join with manufacturers to create an environment that encourages innovation and job creation.

Aric Newhouse is the NAM Senior Vice President for Policy and Government Relations.

While the January employment report shows that manufacturing added just 49,000 jobs last month, we remain concerned with the slow rate of job growth.  Manufacturers were hit very hard by the recession and lost over 2 million jobs over the past few years. In order to create new jobs we need a strong growth agenda from Washington to lower burdens on businesses of all sizing so they can gain confidence in the recovery and begin hiring again. 

The average duration of unemployment is now the longest ever recorded at 36.9 weeks and many unemployed workers have simply stopped looking for new jobs. This is not positive news for manufacturers or the economic recovery.

Many manufacturers are still very concerned about the state of the recovery and the uncertainty caused by harmful regulations and policies coming from Washington. Today’s report demonstrates that manufacturers still have a very long way to go return to the peak pre-recession levels. Manufacturers need certainty and pro-growth policies that will allow them to grow and better compete in the global market and create good high-paying jobs.

Aric Newhouse is the NAM Senior Vice President for Policy and Government Relations.