PITTSBURGH, Sept. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- President Barack Obama has announced the appointment of United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard and 18 others to the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) Steering Committee "2.0."

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The president launched the AMP in 2011 as part of his effort to create good jobs and enhance the nation's competitiveness. The group encourages leaders in industry, education, government and labor to work together to revitalize American manufacturing.

"I look forward to working with this diverse group of leaders to shape our nation's manufacturing policy and make sure we are all focused on putting Americans back to work in good, sustainable, family-supporting jobs," Gerard said. "We must support the president's vision of strengthening our economy by focusing on investments in cutting-edge technologies, education and innovation."

The group will build on the work of the previous AMP steering committee, which last year issued a report calling for investments through public-private partnerships in a series of innovation "hubs" throughout the country. That idea is now under way as part of the president's economic policy.

The AMP committee will work with the White House's National Economic Council and Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Department of Commerce to fully implement the group's previous recommendations and identify new, concrete strategies for continued progress. The group will hold regional work sessions and forums to engage the broader manufacturing community.

"American workers, employers, educators and political leaders must all be focused on the same goal," Gerard said. "If we provide American workers with the support they need to produce cutting-edge products, our economy once again will be the envy of the world."

The USW represents 850,000 members in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It is the largest private-sector union in North America, representing workers in a range of industries including metals, mining, rubber, paper and forestry, oil refining, health care, security, hotels, and municipal governments and agencies.

CONTACT:R.J. Hufnagel, 412-562-2450, rhufnagel@usw.org

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)

RELATED LINKShttp://www.usw.org