On December 19, 2024, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) expressed strong support for the House of Representatives' Bipartisan Task Force Report on Artificial Intelligence, which emphasizes the United States' leadership in AI innovation while proposing essential safeguards against potential threats [084cfe2c]. The report, drafted by an equal number of Republicans and Democrats, outlines key recommendations aimed at promoting AI innovation, safeguarding against harm, planning for power needs, developing an AI-ready workforce, protecting privacy, ensuring feasible compliance for small businesses, and enhancing collaboration between government, industry, and academia [084cfe2c].
This endorsement comes on the heels of NAM's Q4 2024 Manufacturers' Outlook Survey, which revealed a significant increase in optimism among manufacturers, with 70.9% expressing positive outlooks, up from 62.9% in the previous quarter [cca14bc7]. Manufacturers have highlighted the critical need to prevent tax increases, with 79% emphasizing this concern, alongside rising healthcare costs (63.2%) and trade uncertainty (56.1%) as major challenges [cca14bc7].
In addition to advocating for AI innovation, NAM is also pushing for reforms related to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to reduce healthcare costs for manufacturers and their employees [084cfe2c]. Bipartisan legislators, including Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), have been vocal about the need for urgent reforms in this area, emphasizing the importance of transparency and cost reduction [df1a6253].
Furthermore, NAM criticized the Department of Energy's recent LNG report, arguing that it undermines U.S. energy dominance and urged President Trump to lift the LNG export ban, which could potentially support 900,000 jobs and contribute $216 billion to GDP by 2044 [084cfe2c].
NAM President Jay Timmons reiterated the importance of regulatory reform and energy security as essential components for sustaining optimism within the manufacturing sector [cca14bc7]. The association has also launched a seven-figure advertising campaign aimed at promoting PBM reforms, reflecting the significant costs of federal regulations, which exceed $3 trillion annually [cca14bc7].
As the largest manufacturing association in the U.S., representing both small and large manufacturers, NAM's advocacy efforts are crucial in shaping policies that impact nearly 13 million manufacturing jobs and a $2.85 trillion contribution to the U.S. economy annually [cf77093f]. The optimism expressed by manufacturers, combined with their commitment to work with Congress and the incoming administration, indicates a proactive approach to addressing the challenges posed by current tax and regulatory policies [cca14bc7].
