Baldwin, Colleagues Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Advance Made in America Manufacturing Policy
Bill would establish a National Manufacturing Council to strengthen U.S. leadership in manufacturing, support American jobs
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined her colleagues in reintroducing bipartisan legislation to advance Made in America manufacturing policy and economic competitiveness by establishing a National Manufacturing Advisory Council within the U.S. Department of Commerce. The bipartisan National Manufacturing Advisory Council for the 21st Century Act would establish the National Manufacturing Advisory Council to advise lawmakers on how to support our Made in America economy and ensure the U.S. remains the top destination for manufacturing in the world.
“Wisconsin has a long and proud tradition of making things and we need to make sure we are well positioned to continue our manufacturing legacy into the future,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am excited to introduce this legislation with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to strengthen our Made in America economy, support our second-to-none manufacturing workforce, and strengthen our supply chains to lower costs for working families.”
The Advisory Council would meet at least twice a year and advise the Secretary of Commerce on policies and programs that affect manufacturing, as well as propose solutions to problems relating to manufacturers in the United States. The Advisory Council would be required to:
- IDENTIFY AND ASSESS the impacts of technological developments, production capacity, skill availability, investment patterns, and emerging defense needs on the manufacturing competitiveness of the United States.
- SOLICIT INPUT from the public and private sectors as well as academia on emerging trends in manufacturing.
- PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS to the Secretary regarding global and domestic manufacturing trends threatening the U.S. manufacturing sector, including supply chain interruptions, logistical challenges, and technological changes. The Advisory Council would also advise the Secretary on areas to increase federal attention with respect to manufacturing – as well as matters relating to the U.S. manufacturing workforce such as the impact of burgeoning technology and worker training and education priorities.
Joining Senator Baldwin in reintroducing this legislation were U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Mike Braun (R-IN).
The National Manufacturing Advisory Council for the 21st Century Act is supported by the American Small Manufacturers Coalition (ASMC), American Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), and Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA).
An online version of this release is available here.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
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I don’t understand why the US Army recruiting giveaways are produced in China. (There are also the new US Army Recruiting commercials with Jonathan Majors – I wonder how much was paid for the commercial. Wonder why the US Army has to hire outside help to create a commercial.)
I mailed the following letter to Senator Baldwin. No response. Please provide more information. Nothing. . . . And, she voted to approve the promotion of Mr Lowman.
I even went to Washington DC and asked for an appointment to visit with her staff — sorry, we’re too busy.
LTC Robert L. Hill (Retired)
1100 Hawthorne Lane
Brookfield, WI 53005
RobertM60A3@gmail.com
414 534-0456
28 February 2022
Senator Tammy Baldwin
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Baldwin,
As an Afghan veteran, I was stunned to learn that the US Senate was considering Mr. Christopher Lowman for appointment as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment.
Mr. Lowman served in Afghanistan from October 2017 to October 2018 with Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan (CSTC-A) as the Director of Essential Function 5 (Sustainment). In this role, he was “responsible” for building logistic capability and sustainment of the Afghan National Army, Air Force, and Police. His efforts in this role were “lacking.” While Mr. Lowman’s failures are not the sole reason for the collapse of the Afghan National Army and Air Force, they certainly contributed!
Following are a few examples of failures and questionable decision-making. I would be happy to expound on any of these examples, provide documentation, and answer any questions that you may have.
-More than $381 million was wasted buying unarmored NAVISTAR Cargo Trucks that the Afghan Minister of Defense stated were not needed. The Afghan Army was asking for armored vehicles. This contract was terminated by the United States Government on 29 May 2020 for convenience, wasting money that should have been used to provide needed equipment to the Afghan National Army. Mr. Lowman made no effort to modify the contract to armor and armed the cargo trucks. This failure was significant – the failure compromised the ability of the Afghans to resupply forward units. Reports from US Advisors working with Afghan National Army transportation units explain in clear words that the Taliban were targeting unarmored vehicles. NAVISTAR had a version of the trucks that was armored and could have been equipped with weapons mounts – the same as the US Army and Marines were installing on their trucks. Mr. Lowman could have asked for a modification of the contract adding the armored protection. But Mr. Lowman did nothing.
-Hundreds of millions were spent buying HMMWVs instead of the Mobile Strike Force Vehicles requested by the Afghan military or modifying the NAVISTAR truck contract to add armor protection and weapons mounts. The Mobile Strike Force Vehicle was on the budget request submitted to Congress by CSTC-A. But, for unclear reasons, instead of Mobile Strike Force Vehicles that had been included in the budget by Lieutenant General Bolger, a career Infantry Officer. (LTG Bolger had returned to the United States.) Mr. Lowman, a senior civilian with no combat experience, pushed for HMMWVs. The US military stopped using the HMMWV in Afghanistan due to the limited combat capability. The Mobile Strike Force Vehicle (a version of the US M1117 Armored Security Vehicle) was given top marks by the Afghans and coalition forces. Yet, HMMWVs were purchased, and to make the matter worse, HMMWVs provided by Mr. Lowman to the Afghan Army and police did not include any of the essential upgrades. The modification to allow elevation of the machinegun to engage at a higher elevation, i.e., in the mountains, was NOT supplied. The improved overhead cover for the gunner – NOT provided – meaning the Taliban could shoot down at the exposed Afghan gunner. HMMWVs given to the Afghans were missing the adapter needed by the Afghan Soldiers to mount machine guns.
-Ambulances were given to the Afghan Army with “NO” medical supplies – not even a litter.
-Failure to provide training for the Afghan National Army in maintenance and logistics. The Afghan National Army leadership repeatedly asked for help training their Soldiers to maintain the equipment supplied by the US. One 2017 letter from the Afghan Ministry of Defense,
“The US Government has spent more than a billion dollars hiring contractors to maintain Afghan Army weapons and vehicles. The weapons maintenance company hired by the US Government was from India and, while knowledgeable on Soviet weapons, was not an expert on US weapons. The vehicle maintains contractors RMAsia and AISS also did not employ experts, with many of the workers coming from Europe or Afghanistan and knew little about US equipment, as documented by the DoD Inspector General, SIGAR, and press reports while receiving more than a billion dollars, these maintenance contractors have done a very poor job maintaining Afghan equipment and what training they have provided was very poor and disorganized. . .”
The Afghan letter goes on with a specific request to send Afghan Officers and Afghan Cadets attending the Afghan Military Academy to formal maintenance courses. Once trained, these Afghan leaders would have the knowledge and skills needed to train their Soldiers. If action had been taken, this plan would have both reduced cost and improved the sustainment of the Afghan National Army. Sadly, Mr. Lowman took no action on this request.
-Over $9.1 million was spent buying a $108.11 cleaning kit for weapons that the Afghans did not have. Hard to believe, the Afghan Soldiers needed a cleaning kit for the M16 Rifle and M4 Carbine, and millions spent buying a $108.11 cleaning kit that doesn’t work with either of these weapons (or any weapons issued to the Afghan military).
In the Committee on Appropriations Report, 2017 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, wrote:
“The Committee is concerned about reports that Afghanistan Security Force Fund [ASFF] procurements made on behalf of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces [ANDSF] may be exceeding Afghan needs and not meeting other requirements identified by the Afghans. The Committee is also concerned about a lack of insight into the cost benefit analysis of procuring new equipment instead of refurbishing excess equipment. The Committee encourages the Department to work to ensure that priority capability gaps identified by the Afghan security forces are met and that concerns by the Afghans about their ability to absorb equipment are addressed, either through reduced procurements or through advice to and training of ANDSF leadership to ensure that the benefits of the capability being provided are fully understood and, therefore, will be fully utilized. In addition, prior to the obligation of funds for a contract on new equipment, the Committee directs the Commander, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan to provide the congressional defense committees a cost-benefit analysis of purchasing new equipment for the ANDSF instead of refurbishing excess defense articles.”
Mr. Lowman, while responsible, did not follow the Congressional guidance.
Mr. Lowman failed in Afghanistan. With that history, I have no idea why he would be considered suitable for any position working in the Department of Defense. Again, if you have any questions or need documentation, I will be happy to provide additional information.
Appointments are made with the “advise and consent” of the Senate. Congress is a co-equal branch of government with a responsibility that can not be taken likely. The security of the United States is dependent on Congress doing more than rubber stamping. Moving up those that perform poorly is a failure of accountability. The military needs better than Mr. Lowman. We have a duty to the Soldiers and citizens of the United States. (I would recommend reading “The Generals American Military Command from World War II to Today,” and “Fiasco The American Military Adventure in Iraq” by Thomas E. Ricks)
I would appreciate an acknowledgment and response indicating what action you plan to take. I understand the limits of time. However, what could be more important than the security of the United States and the leadership of the US Military? Improving the security of the United States requires that senior leaders that fail should be held accountable for those failures. The cost of failing to hold these failures accountable is too great.
Respectfully,
ROBERT L. HILL
Lieutenant Colonel, US Army (Retired)