PRESS RELEASE from the National Association of Manufacturers

CONTACTS:
HANK COX

NAM PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA FOR HARD-WON, HISTORIC VICTORY
Pledges To Work With New Administration To Strengthen The Economy

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 5, 2008 – National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and Chief Executive Officer John Engler today congratulated President-elect Barack Obama on his election as the next President of the United States.

"This has been a long, hard-fought campaign," Engler said. "Now is the time to go to work for the country - we must come together to revitalize our economy. Our nation is in a financial crisis that is discouraging investment and consumption. Manufacturers are severely impacted by the credit squeeze. Companies with solid balance sheets, good credit histories and order backlogs cannot obtain routine financing. There is no question that we face daunting challenges ahead. The NAM stands ready to work with President-elect Obama to overcome these challenges and move forward as a stronger, united nation," Engler said.

"President-elect Obama’s home state of Illinois is an industrial state with a formidable manufacturing base," Engler said. "President-elect Obama understands the importance of manufacturing and what's good for jobs and the economy overall. He has opposed unfair trade policies that have disadvantaged U.S. manufacturers and expressed support for key issues that are important for jobs creation, including trade, energy, and workforce training."

On behalf of the NAM, Engler presented the President-elect with an open letter of congratulations along with the NAM’s agenda for strengthening manufacturing and the nation’s economy. "The manufacturers of America are optimistic about our future and we look forward to working with President-elect Obama," Engler said.