Composite Material Industry Has a Voice in Congress

Every major material industry has representation in congress (aluminum, wood, steel, etc). Thanks to the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA), the composite material industry now has a voice as well.

The ACMA has put together a 25-member Congressional Composites Caucus co-chaired by U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson (pictured above, and most famous for yelling "you lie"), a South Carolina Republican. The caucus held its first meeting in July.

The following is a list of current members of the Composite Caucus:

Joe Wilson (R-SC) – Caucus Chair
Rick Boucher (D-VA) Caucus Co-chair
Michael Arcuri – (D – NY)
Steve Austria (R-OH)
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Gresham Barrett (R-SC)
Brian Bilbray (R-CA)
Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
Chris Carney (D-PA)
Howard Coble (R-NC)
Vern Ehlers (R-MI)
Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE)
Virginia Foxx (R-NC)
Doug Lamborn (R-CO)
Patrick McHenry (R-NC)
Buck McKeon (R-CA)
Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
Michael H. Michaud (D-ME)
Bill Shuster (R-PA)
Mark Souder (R-IN)
Mike Thompson (D-CA)
Henry Waxman (D-CA)

Not listed is my local congressman, who I have already contacted and encouraged to join. (I suggest everyone reading this involved with composites do the same.)

Here is an interesting recent interview with Monty Felix, the current president of the ACMA. In the article, it states that the composites industry is a $42 billion industry with 3,000 makers of composites that employ more than 250,000.

In this letter attempting to rally support from other congressmen (which you can send to your congressman), dated June 22nd, 2009, and signed by Joe Wilson and Rick Boucher, it states the composites industry is a $70 billion dollar industry employing 550,000 nation wide.

So by calculations, either the congressmen puffed up their numbers or the composites industry has lost $28 billion in revenues and 300,000 employees since the end of June.

Photo Credit: www.joewilson.house.gov