Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I join with my colleagues, led by

Senators Coons and Baldwin, to recognize the significant role

manufacturing plays in the United States and in my home State of Rhode

Island. According to facts compiled by the National Association of

Manufacturers, over 41,000 Rhode Islanders, nearly 9 percent of the

workforce, work in manufacturing. Those workers were responsible for

$4.1 billion in economic output, just under 8 percent of the State's

total output, in 2013. On average these workers brought in over $67,000

in annual compensation.

  Manufacturing is a highly technical and innovative industry that

creates good-paying jobs for skilled workers. It is also an industry

that is expanding; in Rhode Island manufacturing jobs have increased by

1,100 compared to a year ago. And just last week I joined a Rhode

Island advanced manufacturer, Yushin America, Inc., to celebrate a

ribbon cutting for its $2 million expansion.

  This sort of expansion is representative of the type of highly

technical growth we see in manufacturing. Moreover, these good-paying,

highly-skilled, middle-class jobs are what will help further support

widespread economic growth. That is why I look forward to celebrating

National Manufacturing Day with the mayor of Providence and my

delegation colleagues on Monday and continuing to work to advance

measures that support manufacturers and job creation back home.