NAM Seeks Aid for Manufacturing Sector

Dozens of corporate and academic leaders pressed the Bush administration Tuesday for more funding to aid U.S. manufacturing, reports Business Week. They called for help in R&D, science education, and immigration reforms to help attract the world's best scientists and engineers.

"If we don't move, and move faster, it will be a challenge to maintain our standard of living and our global leadership," said former Michigan Gov. Joe Engler, who leads the National Association of Manufacturers.

Industry leaders were participating in the National Summit on Competitiveness, where they urged lawmakers to take several steps to bolster manufacturers, which have lost about 3 million jobs since the middle of 2000.