Washington, D.C. - Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) president Dennis Slater issued the following statement today after President-elect Joe Biden nominated Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce:

“The Association of Equipment Manufacturers congratulates Governor Gina Raimondo on her nomination to serve as the next Secretary of Commerce. With thirty percent of equipment manufactured in the United States destined for export, we need smart trade deals that expand opportunities to sell equipment around the world and ensure global trade is open, fair, and free. Governor Raimondo’s distinguished career as the 75th Governor of Rhode Island, successful businesswoman, and strong advocate for government-industry collaboration will serve her well as the next Secretary of Commerce. Equipment manufacturers look forward to working with Secretary-designate Raimondo to advance policies that improve equipment manufacturers’ competitiveness and ability to reach new customers abroad and create more American jobs and greater prosperity for our nation.”

Equipment manufacturers support one in eight manufacturing jobs in America, and the 2.8 million men and women of our industry make the equipment that build, power, and feed the world and positively impact the lives of every American every day. To learn more about the economic contribution of U.S. equipment manufacturers, visit www.aem.org/impact.

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