WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller (D-WV) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today released the following statements after the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation passed S. 1468, the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2013, which seeks to strengthen collaborations between the government and the manufacturing sector. The legislation now awaits action by the full Senate. 

“Today’s action means we’re one step closer toward increasing our support for American innovation and manufacturing. We must continue to invest in programs that help transform the brilliant scientific discoveries currently taking place in university laboratories into real-world applications on the factory floor,” said Rockefeller. “With this bill, we can bridge the gap from basic research to manufacturing that has doomed so many promising inventions before they’re able to reach the market. Senator Brown has been relentless in his support for workers and the manufacturing industry, and I thank him for all his work on this bill. I also want to thank Ranking Member Thune for his support. Now, it’s time for the full Senate to act on this legislation that will create jobs and boost our economy.”