LIMA, OH –U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today visited the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima. Brown was joined by Mark Roualet, the president of General Dynamics Land Systems, the operator of the plant.

“Our troops can have the best equipment in the world only because the workers here at the Lima tank plant make the best vehicles in the world. This plant has a long history of service to our nation and its workers have supplied the armored vehicles that allow our military to defeat tyranny and take on terrorism,” said Brown. “But the future of our national and economic security depends on what we do for American manufacturing today. From Lima to Marietta to Ohio’s hometowns, we know how to build big things in Ohio – we always have and we always will.”

General Dynamics Land Systems builds and modernizes the M1A2 Abrams Tank.  It also builds the Stryker vehicles, which are the U.S. Army's “vehicles of choice” for operations in Afghanistan.  The Lima plant makes the upper hull for the “double-V hull” Stryker, which helps protect troops in the vehicle in case of attack from roadside bombs and other threats.  The plant will also play a critical role in building the U.S. Marine Corps’ Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle.

Brown is the author of several pieces of legislation that would support domestic manufacturing. Brown successfully fought to help reauthorize and strengthen the Defense Production Act (DPA), which will ensure that domestic manufacturers play an important role in sourcing products critical to our national security.

Brown’s visit to Lima is part of his “Made in Ohio Tour,” which kicked off last week. With job creation as the top priority, Brown is fighting for a multi-pronged effort to promote economic development – from working to position Ohio as the Silicon Valley of Clean Energy Manufacturing, to establishing the state as a hub for high-growth industries. The key components of Senator Brown’s jobs strategy are:

  • Promoting the expansion of Ohio businesses by strengthening small business lending programs and aiding President Obama’s goal to significantly boost U.S. exports.
  • Transitioning away from our dependence on foreign oil to a clean energy future in which jobs are centered in the small businesses, manufacturing facilities, and universities of Ohio.
  • Developing Ohio’s workforce so that Ohioans are prepared to fill the jobs of the 21st century and revitalizing the state’s infrastructure to attract those global industries.
  • Making sure that Ohio industry isn’t undermined due to unfair trade by pursuing remedies to counteract China’s currency manipulation and subsidization of domestic industries.

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