AMT’s vice president and chief technology officer, Tim Shinbara, was recently named a Congressional Fellow – Manufacturing by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) for 2020-2021. Serving in the office of Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who chairs the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (SBC) and sets the committee agenda, Tim’s work with the SBC could not come at a better time.
Pressure has been growing in the United States to shore up the industrial base and help small- and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) stay competitive economically, as they are its backbone. There is a greater public sector concern about advancing technology in the manufacturing industry and helping SMMs adopt new technologies through R&D credits, tax incentives, targeted subsidies, and through public-private partnerships (PPP). SBC works in all of these areas, and Shinbara will bring extensive knowledge of emerging and advanced technologies to his work there.
“ASME’s government fellows have been key advisors to elected officials and federal staff in areas including advanced manufacturing, aerospace, critical infrastructure, energy, and engineering education, while gaining rich experience in many aspects of the public-policymaking process,” said ASME Executive Director/CEO Tom Costabile.
Shinbara’s work with the SBC puts him in a good position to strategically advise legislators early on regarding industry impacts, gap analyses, and connecting otherwise disparate dots in the manufacturing ecosystem.
Focused on the well-being of small businesses, the work of the SBC includes developing legislation and policies to strengthen them through access to capital (financing, microloans, R&D credits, tax breaks, and investment capital), federal contracting and procurement, small business trade and export support, and the Small Business Administration’s State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) that helps small businesses access new markets and obtain export financing.
“My work in Rubio’s office and with the SBC will help ensure that the right language, the right incentives, and the right priorities are included in proposed legislation,” Shinbara said. “A key part of developing legislation is data collection and fact finding to fully understand issues and possible solutions. This includes bringing in industry leaders from around the country to discuss their challenges and answer committee questions directly. I look forward to the role I can play identifying the right people in the industry and from AMT membership to participate in this process.”
