WASHINGTON – Al Frink, assistant secretary for manufacturing and service at the U.S. Commerce Dept., has resigned after just two years in office. As the nation’s ‘manufacturing czar,’ Frink has come under fire from Michigan members of Congress for the lack of progress he showed in the goal of improving U.S. manufacturing. Some also complained that he rarely met with President Bush.
In a statement on her Senate web page, Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow said, “The President now has an opportunity to appoint a U.S. manufacturing czar who is committed to tacking the issues our automakers and American manufacturers care about. Unfortunately, Mr. Frink was not actively engaged in working for an agenda that helps our manufacturers and protects American jobs.
“The next manufacturing czar must be someone who works every day to promote a 21st century manufacturing strategy that will ensure a level playing field and create good-paying middle class jobs for Americans,” Stabenow said.
According to Detroit News, the U.S. has lost nearly 3 million manufacturing jobs since 2000. Michigan alone has lost 218,000 manufacturing jobs due to downsizing at the Big 3.
