Press Releases

Today, Congressman Huizenga (R-MI), Congressman Johnny Olszewski (D-MD), Congresswoman Young Kim (R-CA), Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) announced the introduction of H.R. 9097, the American Manufacturing Revitalization Exchange Program Act. This bipartisan legislation will help train the next generation of technicians, machinists, engineers, and production specialists for the US manufacturing workforce. By 2033, American manufacturing will require 3.8 million additional workers, yet nearly half of these positions may remain unfilled, resulting in an economic cost of nearly $1 trillion by 2030.

Specifically, the American Manufacturing Revitalization Exchange Program Act establishes an international exchange program, known as the American Manufacturing Revitalization Exchange Program, at the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Under this program, the State Department will send eligible Americans working in manufacturing fields abroad for hands-on manufacturing training and certifications in allied countries with deep manufacturing expertise, who then return to the U.S. with new skills to help meet the labor skill shortage in the U.S. manufacturing industry and aid in reshoring efforts.

“Having a strong manufacturing sector is critical to our economy, national security, and ability to compete globally,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “By focusing on advanced manufacturing in sectors such as automotive, semiconductors, and aeronautics, this bipartisan legislation will help reshore American manufacturing, equip American workers with in-demand skills, and rebuild our nation’s middle class.”

"Strengthening American manufacturing starts with investing in our workforce," said Congressman Olszewski, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "I'm proud to help lead this effort to give workers greater access to the tools and experience they need to compete and succeed in a global economy. This will keep America competitive, strengthen our economic prosperity, and ensure our workforce is ready for the next generation of manufacturing."

“American manufacturing and its workforce are essential to our economy and the growth of industries around our nation," said Congressman Thompson. "This legislation expands opportunities for Pennsylvanians, allowing them to upskill and share their expertise with others. This will ensure future generations are prepared for the workforce and equipped with the right skills, maintaining America’s competitive edge as we move into the future."

“America’s manufacturing industry is facing a critical workforce shortage at a time when strengthening domestic production has never been more important,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “Our bill will give Americans the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on training from our allies, bring those skills back home, and help support our nation’s reshoring efforts. This program will also highlight the exciting opportunities available in modern manufacturing and help inspire more Americans to pursue these rewarding careers."

Support for the American Manufacturing Revitalization Exchange Program Act is strong and growing. Organizations that support this Huizenga-led effort include the United Steelworkers, National Association of Manufacturers, Alliance for International Exchange, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE-USA), Dirac, Inc, MISUMI Americas, BMW Group, Wallenius Wilhelmsen, LIFT, Foundation for American Innovation, Automation Alley, Additive Manufacturing Coalition.

“Manufacturers across the country are leading efforts to upskill and train the manufacturing workforce of the future. Rep. Huizenga’s American Manufacturing Revitalization Exchange Program Act would bolster the industry’s existing efforts to develop America’s manufacturing workforce by expanding workers’ training opportunities via international partnerships—bolstering investment and production capacity here at home.” Charles Crain, Managing Vice President of Policy at the National Association of Manufacturers, and Gardner Carrick, Chief Program Officer of the Manufacturing Institute

"We at Automation Alley appreciate Rep. Huizenga highlighting the need to focus on providing essential training for our critically important manufacturing workforce.  Our manufacturers, and their workers, are the backbone of the State of Michigan's economy and it is imperative that our manufacturing workforce has the skills necessary to compete globally." Tom Kelly, CEO Automation Alley

“The USW supports increasing workers’ access to information about manufacturing processes, including hands-on experience, through the American Manufacturing Revitalization Exchange Program Act of 2026. This program will allow workers to learn from their counterparts overseas and bring that knowledge back to the United States, helping build bridges between workers and making our domestic industries stronger.” Roy Houseman, Legislative Director and Assistant to the President, United Steelworkers

“The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers-USA (IEEE-USA) “endorses this legislation to continue revitalizing the science and technology workforce that has long driven American innovation. As manufacturing in critical sectors like robotics and semiconductors shifted overseas, our domestic workforce pipeline declined in tandem. Reclaiming our leadership in advanced manufacturing requires an economy that creates high-paying jobs for all workers, not just those with PhDs. By helping rebuild a highly skilled manufacturing workforce, this bill ensures the United States remains the global leader of science and technology innovation.” Nils Smith, Vice President, IEEE-USA

"The Alliance for International Exchange is pleased to endorse the American Revitalization Manufacturing Exchange Program Act, which creates an outbound exchange for American leaders in manufacturing to gain critical skills from U.S. allies and trade partners. This bill not only creates a public diplomacy program to fill a gap in American manufacturing, but also the program will also reinforce U.S. ties with partners globally while gaining innovative and necessary know-how in this space." Mark Overmann, Executive Director, Alliance for International Exchange

A resilient U.S. manufacturing sector requires a workforce that understands the complexities of a global supply chain. This Act is a forward-thinking investment in our most valuable resource: people. By upskilling U.S. citizens in allied countries, we’re building a sophisticated labor pool capable of integrating advanced technologies and securing our industrial base for decades to come. By establishing an exchange program with global allies, we’re enabling American talent to exchange ideas and technical expertise with the best manufacturing minds in the world. This Act ensures that our workforce returns home with a global perspective and specialized skills. To lead the next industrial revolution, we must be proactive in how we train the next generation. Supporting the 'American Manufacturing Revitalization Exchange Program' Bill allows us to bridge the skills gap by leveraging American strengths abroad. It’s a win-win that brings world-class knowledge back to U.S. soil, fueling the specialized talent we need to drive innovation.” Dave Evans, President & CEO of MISUMI Americas and CEO of Fictiv

"You can ship machines across an ocean, but you can't ship know-how. That has to be learned, captured, and passed down. The expertise that built the arsenal of democracy walked out the door with the jobs, and no amount of capital investment will rebuild our industrial base until we rebuild that knowledge. Representative Huizenga's bill creates a serious mechanism to bring back the production knowledge America gave away over the last forty years. Dirac is proud to support legislation that recognizes our shop floors as the foundation of American prosperity."  Filip Aronshtein, Co-founder and CEO, Dirac, Inc.

“Advancing the skills of our workforce is a priority for BMW Group.  For 15 years, we have been preparing students for a future in advanced manufacturing through several recruiting programs,  including our most renown, the BMW Scholars Program at BMW Plant Spartanburg.  We welcome Congressman Huizenga’s “American Manufacturing Revitalization Exchange Program Act” which will help support the training needed to develop a skilled and talented workforce for U.S. Manufacturing.” Astrid Ruggeri,  Director, U.S. Trade Policy, BMW Group

“A skilled workforce and resilient supply chains are foundational to competitive manufacturing. As an integrated maritime, logistics, and industrial company, Wallenius Wilhelmsen is not only a transporter of goods, but an active industrial player with deep operational expertise. We see strong value in initiatives that strengthen U.S. manufacturing through practical skills development, hands-on training, and collaboration with global allies.”  Wallenius Wilhelmsen