A customer standing nearby asked a clerk for a look at the alarm clocks behind the counter. As each clock was passed to her, the customer inspected it closely, turning the package upside down and without a word handed each one back to the store clerk. After the third clock was returned, he asked if there was a particular feature she was looking for, to which she replied:   

"Yes, I want one made in America."

She walked out of the store empty handed.

Folks, when was the last time you turned over a product and saw it stamped "Made in America?"

Just today, news came out of New Jersey that the Girl Scouts of America (of all organizations) will seek bids from Chinese manufacturers to produce their sashes and uniforms, instead of the family-run business that's been producing those uniforms for the last ten years. According to the owner, that's 90 jobs that will likely be lost for good, and sadly, his comments echo what we hear all too often from American businesses: "I cannot compete if they (Chinese manufacturers) are setting their prices at half of what I'm making."

In the last decade, we've lost an astonishing five million blue-collar jobs across the nation - nearly one-fifth of our manufacturing workforce. And next year, we will lose our perch as the number one global manufacturer...to China.

The good news is that around Southwestern Pennsylvania we still make things like industrial products, heavy machinery, and even cookware and children’s toys.

But we can do better. We need to do better to get our economy moving foward.

That's the theme of my latest radio spot, which features a standup guy who has focused his time and effort on the rebirth of American manufacturing - John Ratzenberger. You probably remember John as "Cliff" on Cheers and the host of the Travel Channel's "Made in America," which showcased our country's unique factory gems.

I met John Ratzenberger a few years ago through his work with the Alliance for American Manufacturing. John's been actively drawing attention to changes needed in our nation's tax, trade, and training policies so we can get our factories humming again.

That's been my priority in Congress, and yesterday, I was honored to accept a "Manufacturing Legislative Excellence" award from the National Association of Manufacturers.

At the event, my message to our local manufacturers in the audience was clear: ‘Yes, job creators are under attack with new mandates, regulations, and ham-fisted oversight by unresponsive government agencies. Yes, there are policies threatening to cause electric bills to skyrocket. And yes, higher taxes loom ahead under the current Congressional regime in power. But we've had some successes and we can't stop now.'

We need to go on the offense, and aggressively push for an agenda that centers around growing our manufacturing base. Some of that work has already begun.

On the Energy and Commerce Committee, I helped to re-draft the House-passed legislation that develops a National Manufacturing strategy.  And just last month, Congress passed on an overwhelming bipartisan basis a bill I co-authored to stop the Chinese government’s illegal export subsidies through manipulation of currency markets.

So long as we keep working together, progress and prosperity will not be memories from a bygone era, but rather will be the promises made and delivered to our children. I know that America's best days are ahead because the people of Southwestern Pennsylvania retain a can-do work ethic and a determined spirit.

As always, I welcome your thoughts. Please email me at contacttim@electtimmurphy.com .