Gillibrand pushes bill to boost manufacturing education at universities

DeWITT, N.Y. — A proposed federal bill would “bolster” manufacturing education at universities and train the workforce to meet the current needs of the manufacturing sector.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D–N.Y.) on Friday announced the proposal during an appearance at SBB, Inc. in DeWitt. The Democrat’s office also distributed a news release about the proposal that same day.

SBB is a manufacturer of clean room packages and equipment.

Gillibrand introduced the “Manufacturing Universities Act of 2015,” a bill that would designate 25 universities as “manufacturing universities” and provide schools with incentives to “better align their educational offerings with the needs of modern manufacturers,” her office said.

The legislation will provide qualifying universities grants of $5 million per year, for a four-year period, that will help universities “enhance” their engineering programs to emphasize manufacturing skills, according to the release.

It would also encourage partnerships with local manufacturers; increase internship and cooperative-education opportunities for students; and help more recent graduates launch new manufacturing businesses, as described in the release.

“If we want our local businesses to expand and grow Upstate New York’s economy, then we need to make sure our workforce has the skills and training to match,” Gillibrand said. “No job should go unfilled and no company’s expansion should ever be inhibited because there aren’t enough trained workers. This legislation will equip more students with the advanced manufacturing skills and experience necessary to meet growing demand and ensure New York’s manufacturing sector remains innovative and globally competitive.”

The bill would also require a school to apply and submit a four-year plan for achieving goals in order to be eligible for the designation and funding, Gillibrand’s office said.

Gillibrand introduced the proposal on March 18 along with U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D–Del.), Lindsey Graham (R–S.C.), Kelly Ayotte (R–N.H.), and Tammy Baldwin (D–Wisc).

Lawmakers also introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, Gillibrand’s office said.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com