WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., on Wednesday announced bipartisan legislation with U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., known as the Smart Manufacturing Leadership Act.

The Shaheen-Alexander bill would assist small-and medium-sized American manufacturers in adopting what’s known as “smart manufacturing technologies.” Smart manufacturing combines information, technology and innovation, allowing companies to make real-time management decisions regarding productivity, energy and costs. These advanced technologies are transforming the manufacturing sector, but due to a lack of staff resources, expertise and capital constraints, they have only been implemented mostly by large manufacturing facilities.

“I’m very encouraged to see the Senate Energy and Resources Committee work in a bipartisan manner to usher this group of energy efficiency legislation forward, particularly my bipartisan bill with Senator Alexander to deliver critical resources to New Hampshire businesses to invest in high-tech manufacturing,” Shaheen said. “Empowering our small-and medium-sized businesses with the tools they need to adopt smart manufacturing technologies and expand their businesses will continue to be a top priority, and I’ll keep working across the aisle to get this legislation over the finish line.”

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