NCTO Welcomes RFT-MII Announcement

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2016 04 01 RFT MII Announcement

 

April 1, 2016
For Immediate Release

CONTACT:  Lloyd Wood
(202) 822-8028
lwood@ncto.org

NCTO Welcomes RFT-MII Announcement

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced today that Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) was selected to lead the Revolutionary Fibers & Textiles Manufacturing Innovation Institute (RFT-MII).

The RFT-MII is a collaborative effort between government and the private sector to accelerate the development of the next generation of highly functional textiles from both a commercial and military perspective.

Total funding is expected to be almost $320 million.  The Department of Defense (DoD) has committed $75 million, a figure matched by almost $250 million in money and other in-kind contributions from the U.S. textile industry and other sources.

The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) welcomed the announcement.  “We are pleased that the RFT-MII has gone from concept to reality,” said NCTO President Augustine Tantillo.  “This investment in advanced manufacturing will add to the substantial ongoing efforts associated with innovation in fiber and textile science in the United States.”

“This long range investment will help the United States maintain its current position as the most innovative and technically advanced textile industry in the world,” Tantillo added.

“We expect that it will ultimately spur jobs and investment in our sector while also making our military stronger,” Tantillo finished, as he noted that domestic industry supplies more than 8,000 different textile products to our warfighters.

President Obama announced the formation of the RFT-MII on March 18, 2015 as part of his National Network of Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) initiative.  The NNMI brings together industry, academia and federal partners to increase U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, by promoting a robust and sustainable manufacturing research and development infrastructure.

There are 579,000 jobs in U.S. fiber, textile and apparel production.  Sector exports were $27.75 billion last year.  Capital investment within industry totaled $2 billion in 2014, an increase of 50 percent since 2009.

NCTO represents domestic textile manufacturers and related industry.  See www.ncto.org.

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NCTO Submits Testimony to U.S. International Trade Commission on Impact of TPP

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On February 15, 2016, NCTO submitted testimony to the U.S. International Trade Commission on the potential impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) on the U.S. textile industry.

NCTO ITC TPP Submission 2016 2-15

NCTO Statement on Release of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Text

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Today’s release of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) text allows NCTO to begin an exhaustive review of the details of the agreement. NCTO will immediately initiate a thorough analysis of the text to determine its impact on our members, the U.S. textile industry as a whole, and our Western Hemisphere trading partners. Read more

Statement on the Passing of Congressman Howard Coble

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NCTO is saddened to learn of former Congressman Howard Coble’s passing. Congressman Coble was a steadfast textile leader in Congress who dedicated his life to fighting for the real people and real jobs that the U.S. textile industry provided. He co-sponsored every bill, fought for every issue, and signed every letter that the U.S. Read more

NCTO APPLAUDS SENATE PASSAGE OF TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY

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For Immediate Release
June 25, 2015

The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) applauds Senate passage of legislation to renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). TPA establishes congressional negotiating objectives and institutes parameters associated with the final congressional review of international trade agreements. Additionally, TPA formalizes consultation mechanisms between Congress and the Executive Branch on trade agreements as they are being negotiated. Read more

NCTO PRAISES HOUSE FOR PASSAGE OF TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY

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For Immediate Release
June 18, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) applauds House passage of legislation to renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) earlier today. TPA establishes congressional negotiating objectives and consultation mechanisms involving international trade agreements currently being negotiated by the U.S. government.
Read more

NCTO Statement on Today’s House Vote on the Trade Act of 2015

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June 12, 2015

WASHINGTON—NCTO encourages Congress and the Administration to work toward a bipartisan solution that will allow Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) to proceed swiftly in the House of Representatives. NCTO remains committed to the success of TPA as a vital part of overall U.S. trade policy in an effort to ensure strong and rational international trade agreements that fully incorporate the interests of the U.S. textile industry.

NCTO STATEMENT ON SENATE PASSAGE OF THE BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL TRADE PRIORITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2015

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NCTO STATEMENT ON SENATE PASSAGE OF THE BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL TRADE PRIORITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2015

The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) praises Senate passage of legislation to renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 establishes congressional negotiating objectives and institutes parameters associated with the final congressional review of international trade agreements currently being negotiated by the U.S. government.

Additionally, TPA formalizes consultation mechanisms between Congress and the Executive Branch on trade agreements as they are being negotiated. It is critical that the Executive Branch work closely with Congress to develop trade agreements that fully incorporate the interests of American textile workers and the middle class. The U.S. textile and apparel industry employs 499,500 hard working Americans in the United States. It is imperative that these agreements are constructed in a balanced and fair manner in order to help boost American exports, create jobs, and strengthen the U.S. economy.

“We are pleased to continue to lend our support to the renewal of Trade Promotion Authority,” stated NCTO President Augustine Tantillo. “We commend the Senate for passing a clean bill that did not include provisions damaging to domestic job growth, manufacturing, and the U.S. textile industry as a whole. We encourage the House to follow the Senate’s lead and pass a clean TPA bill without amendments that hurt domestic textile workers.”

NCTO Statement on House Passage of FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1735)

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NCTO Statement on House Passage of FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1735)

NCTO applauds the action taken by the House of Representatives earlier today in passing the FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1735). The Defense Authorization bill contained important language supporting the Berry Amendment authored by Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) (Amendment #74, part of En Bloc Amendment #5). NCTO commends Congressman McGovern for offering this amendment that ensures that a provision in Section 854 of H.R. 1735 would not seriously harm the U.S. textile, apparel, and footwear industry. Section 854 proposes to increase the Simplified Acquisition Threshold procedure (SAT) from $150,000 to $500,000 meaning that contracts falling below the SAT level would not be subject to the Berry Amendment. The McGovern amendment, however, exempted Berry contracts from this increased SAT threshold and instead mandates that the current $150,000 threshold level remain in place for all textile and apparel purchases under Berry.

Among other things, the Berry Amendment ensures that our warfighters stay protected in domestically produced personal protective equipment. The Berry Amendment has spurred substantial research, development and innovation that ensures that America’s warfighters have the most advanced and effective textile materials available. In addition, Berry helps to spur U.S. manufacturing, investment, employment, and exports. It is imperative that Congress preserve the integrity of the Berry Amendment through policies like Congressman McGovern’s amendment. Doing so will ensure the highest level of performance and safety for our U.S. military.

5/15/2015

NCTO Statement on Trade Legislation Passed by the Senate Today (5/14/2015)

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NCTO Statement on Trade Legislation Passed by the Senate Today

NCTO commends the Senate for earlier today passing two important pieces of trade legislation H.R. 1295 and H.R. 644, addressing trade preference programs and customs enforcement. As the Senate now moves to consider another trade package including Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), NCTO urges the chamber to pass a clean TPA bill without harmful amendments that will damage U.S. textile jobs, manufacturing, and exports.

5/14/2015