Ranking Member Ro Khanna Announces Select Committee ‘Heartland Tour’ to Unveil New Economic Patriotism Agenda and Call for Economic Renewal
WASHINGTON — Representative Ro Khanna, Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, will lead a “Heartland Tour” from May 7th-9th across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan. He will be joined by Representatives Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), and Haley Stevens (MI-11).
Since President Trump returned to office, U.S. manufacturers have shed approximately 100,000 jobs and manufacturing construction has declined by 12%. The administration’s policies have harmed American manufacturers, farmers, and port workers – critical groups for America’s competition with China that President Trump claimed his policies would help. The representatives will meet with workers, manufacturers, and farmers who have been impacted directly by these policies and discuss a path forward.
Rep. Khanna will also unveil a new economic patriotism agenda: a set of bold and innovative policies to rebuild American manufacturing and create good-paying jobs in places that have been hollowed out. These include an industrial development bank, 1,000 trade schools, new tech institutes, investment in care jobs, and workers sharing in profits. He will also discuss lowering childcare, housing, and healthcare costs for families. Rep. Khanna and his colleagues will offer policies to help the working-class while holding the Epstein class accountable.
Full schedule below. Press RSVP required: sarah.drory@mail.house.gov
Heartland Tour Overview:
For Planning Purposes Only
Day 1: Thursday, May 7, Pennsylvania:
United Steel Workers Headquarters - 600 Blvd of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA
10:00 AM-10:45 AM
Who:
- Representative Ro Khanna
- USW President Roxanne Brown
- Members of USW leadership
USW is North America’s largest private-sector union, boasting 850,000 members and retirees in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. They represent a vast array of workers in industries including manufacturing, energy, mining, forestry, and more. Rep. Khanna will meet with USW President Roxanne Brown and will give remarks to press alongside USW leadership about standing up for workers and revitalizing American manufacturing.
Nextpower - 100 Leetsdale Industrial Drive, Leetsdale, PA
11:15 AM-12:30 PM
Who:
- Representative Ro Khanna
- Representative Chris Deluzio
- Plant leadership and workers
This facility is a joint venture between Nextpower, the global market leader in utility-scale solar trackers, and JM Steel, a Pittsburgh-based steel fabricator. Nextpower has commissioned multiple steel manufacturing partners as part of its commitment to ‘rebuilding America’s steel and solar supply chains.” The Leetsdale location will help Nextpower build enough annual domestic solar tracker capacity to power 7.5 million homes. Reps. Khanna and Deluzio will engage in a brief discussion with plant leadership and workers before taking a tour of the factory floor.
Tenaris - 6403 6th Ave, Koppel, PA
1:15 PM-2:15 PM
Who:
- Representative Ro Khanna
- Representative Chris Deluzio
Tenaris is the leading manufacturer of pipes and related services for the world’s energy industry and other industrial applications. The company employs more than 3,600 employees across the U.S. and manufactures steel tubes used in energy, construction, and infrastructure. They are a USW organized steel fabricator with three locations across Southwest Pennsylvania. Reps. Khanna and Deluzio will have a brief discussion with both the plant’s leadership and union local leadership. Afterwards they will be given a tour of the facility.
Vitro Glass - 5123 Victory Blvd, Cochranton, PA
3:30 PM-5:15 PM
Who:
- Representative Ro Khanna
- Representative Chris Deluzio
Vitro Glass is an architectural and automotive glassmaker. The glass industry in the U.S. has suffered as cheaper glass floods the market from China. In 2023, Vitro entered into an agreement with First Solar to manufacture glass for the company’s American-made solar panels. As a result, Vitro invested $93.6 million in upgrading its Meadville Plant and created 130 new jobs. Reps. Khanna and Deluzio will tour the facility, meet with facility leaders, and give brief remarks.
Day 2 - Friday, May 8, Ohio:
Ultium Cells - 7400 Tod Ave SW, Warren, OH
8:30 AM –10:30 AM
Who:
- Representative Ro Khanna
- Thomas Gallagher, Vice-President of Operations, Ultium Cells
- George Goranitis, UAW Local 1112 President
Ultium Cells LLC and LG Energy Solution operate a $2.3 billion, 2.8 million-square-foot electric vehicle battery cell manufacturing plant. The facility employs roughly 1,700–2,000 people. The plant is organized by UAW. Rep. Khanna will meet with Ultium Cells leadership and UAW Local 1112 President George Goranitis that will be followed by a factory tour and opportunities to speak with workers.
Port of Cleveland and Greatlakes Shipyard - 1100 W. 9th Street – Suite 300 Cleveland, OH
12:00 PM-2:00 PM
Who:
- Representative Ro Khanna
- Representative Shontel Brown
- Port of Cleveland CEO and President Jeff Epstein
- Port of Cleveland Chief Operating Officer David Gutheil
- President of the Cleveland Maritime Port Council John Baker
- Meeting with unionized workers
The Port of Cleveland is the third largest port on the Great Lakes, generating $7.07 billion in annual economic activity and supporting over 23,000 jobs in the region. It operates the only direct container service between the Great Lakes and Europe and is represented by several unions including the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association, the International Longshoremen's Association, the International Union of Operating Engineers, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and the United Steelworkers.
Reps. Khanna and Brown will give brief remarks and meet with leadership as well as unionized workers from different parts of the port's operation. This stop includes a tour of the Port of Cleveland and the Great Lakes Shipyard, a state-of-the-art facility for vessel construction and repair.
MAGNET; MEP Center - 1800 E 63rd Street, Cleveland, OH
2:20 PM-3:00 PM
Who:
- Representative Ro Khanna
- Representative Shontel Brown
- Ethan Karp, MAGNET President and CEO
- Michael Canty, MAGNET Board Chair and CEO of Alloy Precision
- Lee Watson, Former President and CEO of the AECO family companies
- A group of local small and medium-sized manufacturers
The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network, is a nonprofit consulting and technical assistance organization that works with small and medium sized manufacturers in the Cleveland area and serves as the Northeast Ohio regional partner of the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). MAGNET has helped more than 2,000 manufacturers generate over $1 billion in sales, realize more than $400 million in cost savings, and create or retain 11,000 jobs in Northeast Ohio.
Reps. Khanna and Brown will meet with MAGNET leadership alongside local small and medium-sized manufacturers to discuss the impacts of federal policy on manufacturing. They will also tour the facility.
Dinner with Ohio Farmers - 20505 State Route 47, Maplewood, OH
6:30 PM-8:30 PM
Who:
- Representative Ro Khanna
- Chris Gibbs, Owner of Gibbs Farm
- A group of Ohio farmers
Gibbs Farm is a corn, soybean, and cattle operation in Shelby County, Ohio. Rep. Khanna will speak to a group of Ohio farmers at a dinner organized by Chris Gibbs, a former Republican who has been critical of Trump’s policies that have hurt farmers like him.
Day 3 - Saturday, May 9 - Ohio and Michigan
Gibbs Farm - 20505 State Route 47, Maplewood, OH
8:00AM–9:15AM
Who:
- Representative Ro Khanna
- Chris Gibbs, Owner of Gibbs Farm
This visit consists of a tour of Gibbs Farm led by owner Chris Gibbs. The farm visit itself is focused on providing a direct view of agricultural operations and the policy environment affecting them.
First Solar - 28380 Tracey Road, Walbridge, OH
12:00 PM-1:30 PM
Who:
- Representative Ro Khanna
- Representative Marcy Kaptur
First Solar is an American manufacturer of solar panels that operates an all-American supply chain. Reps. Khanna and Kaptur will hold a brief discussion with plant leadership followed by a tour of the solar manufacturing facility and a discussion with workers regarding production, supply chains, and market conditions. This stop will provide an opportunity to discuss how recent policy changes have impacted US-China energy technology competition.
GM Romulus Propulsion - 36880 Ecorse Rd, Romulus, MI
2:45 PM-4:00 PM
Who:
- Representative Ro Khanna
- Representative Debbie Dingell
- Representative Haley Stevens
- Facility and union leaders
GM Romulus is a powertrain plant that produces engines for passenger vehicles. The facility is part of General Motors’ broader U.S. manufacturing network. Reps. Khanna, Dingell, and Stevens will give brief remarks followed by a tour of a GM powertrain manufacturing facility and discussions with company and labor representatives regarding production trends and workforce conditions.
UAW Local 600 - 10550 Dix Ave, Dearborn, MI
4:30 PM-5:30 PM
Who:
- Representative Ro Khanna
- Representative Debbie Dingell
- Representative Haley Stevens
- Tony Richard, President, UAW Local 600
- Tom Buchanan, Sergeant-at-Arms, UAW Local 600
- A dozen UAW Local 600 Members
UAW Local 600 is a major local chapter representing workers at nearby auto plants, including a Ford truck plant. Reps. Khanna, Dingell, and Stevens will join union members for a roundtable session to gather perspectives on workforce conditions, competition with China, and the impact on U.S. jobs.
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