WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today convened a full committee hearing in Charleston, West Virginia as part of his ongoing push to create jobs and improve manufacturing throughout the State and the country.

Witness List:

The Honorable Suresh Kumar, Assistant Secretary for Trade Promotion and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, U.S. Department of Commerce

Ms. Judy K. McCauley, West Virginia District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration

Mr. Mark Julian, Deputy Executive Director and Director of Business and Industrial Development, West Virginia Department of Commerce

Mr. Donald Gallion, Chairman of the West Virginia District Export Council and Senior Vice President for International Sales, FCX Systems, Inc.

Mr. Randy Moore, Vice President of the West Virginia AFL-CIO and International Representative of the United Steelworkers

Key Quotations from Today’s Hearing:

“West Virginia companies have done an impressive job of promoting their products abroad, but there is always room for growth. We have great companies, with the best and most productive workers in the country, and we build products that consumers across the world want to buy. We just need to connect the right companies with the right buyers. The West Virginia manufacturing community and the agencies that are represented here will build an even stronger working relationship after today. Boosting our manufacturing sector and creating jobs will require innovation and collaboration, and the momentum we create today will help us build a better economy tomorrow.”

Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV

“The United States is the world’s largest and most productive manufacturer but competitors abroad are increasingly producing quality goods at less cost. Our companies and workers must have access to programs that will help us out-innovate the competition to ‘win the future.’ We must install programs that help American workers constructively engage in global markets. Companies win by exporting higher value manufactured goods that the world's consumers demand and by leading the development of new industries. Workers win because U.S. manufacturing jobs supported by exports pay 18 percent more on average.”

The Honorable Suresh Kumar, Assistant Secretary for Trade Promotion and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, U.S. Department of Commerce

“Finding new markets through exporting offers the greatest potential for growth among West Virginia’s small manufacturers. The individuals that work in this field have heart, they are dedicated and they are making a difference. Last year, West Virginia exports totaled 6.4 billion. They grew 33 percent over the previous year and have doubled since 2006. We are going to double them again by 2015.”

Ms. Judy K. McCauley, West Virginia District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration

“West Virginia has its foot on the accelerator. We believe it is time to reaffirm our commitment to business and manufacturing assistance, workforce development, financing programs and support of technology development. This fundamentally must include state and federal partnerships and programs. They are important to our efforts.”

Mr. Mark Julian, Deputy Executive Director and Director of Business and Industrial Development, West Virginia Department of Commerce

“Without export participation, a company will not be a long term player. It is my opinion; all companies must participate in the global economy to survive in the long term. You not only need to export as a company, we must export as a nation. We have seen our core businesses change as the global economy has impacted our competitiveness, but our nation must export more today than ever before.”

Mr. Donald Gallion, Chairman of the West Virginia District Export Council and Senior Vice President for International Sales, FCX Systems, Inc.

“This nation will not be able to double net exports, reduce our trade deficits substantially nor meet our economic and security needs unless we produce more of what we consume. Our nation’s future success, the reclamation of the American Dream, in fact, depends on revitalizing our manufacturing sector.”

Mr. Randy Moore, Vice President of the West Virginia AFL-CIO and International Representative of the United Steelworkers

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