The nation’s largest manufacturing trade association is urging the federal government as well as state and local leaders to deem their private-sector facilities “essential infrastructure” that wouldn’t be automatically closed under health and safety measures to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.
National Association of Manufacturers President Jay Timmons said Thursday in a letter to state and local government groups that the designation was necessary because his group’s members produce many items that are urgently needed during the crisis. Public safety measures introduced in the wake of the virus were not taking this into account.
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“There have been many well-intentioned actions to shutter all businesses in certain localities, and the result has unfortunately adversely impacted operations for the supply chain,” Timmons told the leaders of the National Governors Association, National Association of Counties, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National League of Cities.
Timmons said the nation is depending on the things manufacturers make, from equipment and vehicles needed for first responders “to items seemingly not critical but very much a part of the supply chain necessary for both comfort and survival.” He warned that without the essential designation, the manufacturing industry could take a major economic hit: “There is the potential for devastating consequences that could impact public health, safety and the very livelihoods of the men and women who are proud to work as manufacturers.”
The trade group made a similar plea Wednesday to the federal government to have their facilities deemed “essential” at the national level, as well as calling for $1.4 trillion in loans to provide “desperately needed” liquidity to the association’s members.
