U.S. Representative Ro Khanna, (D-Calif), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about his efforts to bring modern industrial factories back to America. Khanna also discussed Economic Patriotism and how the CHIPS and Science Act can serve as a pathway for the country’s re-industrialization efforts.
For Khanna, seeing the country in a state of segregation has been disappointing. As a son of immigrants, Khanna has fought for the American Dream that he has seen shipped overseas and weakened over the last 40 years. He is fighting to reshore and work together with both sides of the political spectrum to return the pursuit of the American Dream back to American soil. To do this, he wants to “re-industrialize” America. This involves bringing back factory work and focusing on producing products in America – a project he refers to as Economic Patriotism.
This project includes the U.S. becoming a manufacturing superpower again and eliminating trade deficits. The last time America had a trade surplus was 1965, prior to the offshoring of the steel industry. Khanna’s plan focuses on building modern industry and revitalizing cities that have been forgotten. It also includes creating high quality, Union jobs for more Americans. This revitalization of the manufacturing industry is currently being manifested with a bi-partisan Steel Bill. The co-sponsors want to restore American Pride and bolster the middle class through good union jobs, Khanna said.
Khanna is a co-author of the CHIPS and Science Act that was passed by the 117th United States Congress. The bill was passed with bipartisan support and ensures that a certain amount of jobs will come to Union workers and well-educated residents, instead of being offshored. With the passing of the bill, Khanna sees that both sides can come together and unite American’s in support of the creation of good jobs. The next step is to get the same support around modern industrialization efforts, and Khanna believes that the work from both sides of the aisle is the key to bringing the modern factories back to America, along with quality, Union jobs.
For more from Rep. Khanna, please listen to the whole episode above.