April 16th, 2021: Congressional News and Global Opportunities for the U.P.

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan has been ringing in Congress's ear as of late. With global shifts and emergence from COVID the U.P. and its strategic interests to the rest of the nation are becoming increasingly apparent. We are not just a land of beautiful shores and dancing celestial lights, but also a hardy people that can sharpen the pick axes of the past to pierce the global market of the present with ground breaking products and innovations. Keeping the 906 thriving will mean attracting and retaining international investment in emerging industries that are in line with global/national demand. Staying abreast of market changes sometimes leads to the opening of a window of opportunity where the right investment at the right time creates a butterfly effect throughout multiple industry lines leading to national transformation (see Schumpeter Entrepreneur and Digitized Productivity and Government Innovation Methods)

There are are important considerations of infrastructure,, international collaboration(....if we call Canada international. I grew up in the U.P. and Canadians were more like cousins who happened to like Curling. Mostly we see them on the holidays. 🤷), military & space stuff, COVID tax help and other activities like Plug In the U.P. (See Rural Advisory Committee). As plans formalize you will notice that further collaboration between North American countries is likely as manufacturing supply chains are drawn back home (Unless someone wants to make them longer? 🙉 Thinking U.S., CAN and MX). The U.P. once fueled our wars with raw materials, and may come to fuel the materials and technology needed tomorrow.

Reading below you will notice that the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has been on the lips of our politicians. There are lot of interesting things going on in the U.P. as it relates to private and public investment in the aerospace, military, and logistical industries (Perhaps we can improve Great Lakes Shipping. See Shipping Infrastructure)(I have a few ideas on how to push the industry to grow and adapt faster than our competitors. See Start-up and Incumbent Firms Delta County and Military Innovation). The Act extends to include the Space Force that will rely on radical technologies not yet available on the market. 🤔🚀(As Buzz Lightyear and Woody in Toy Story say, "To Infinity... and Beyond!"...it means endless possibilities and even beyond that into the unknown.). If you are the explorer type that might sound kind of cool! 

You might also want to consider the needs of our U.P. workforce to learn new STEM skills and create other leading market capital. The U.P. may soon be a hot spot for great ideas (Hopefully, Delta County with under developed opportunities in engineering, logistics, metals/mining, manufacturing/testing, and micro-tourism industries....or variations thereof. See Creating New Innovative Industries). Matching local skill with Industry-University R&D can be a lucrative match (See Industry-University Research).

What happens in the U.P. could impact opportunities throughout the region and nation (See Regional Industry Cluster Detection) as we try to find footing to compete with China. Wouldn't it be great if we were able to rejuvenating our fighting spirit with the collective effort not seen since the Greatest Generation(See US-China Econ Platform)? Yes the tools have changed, skills have adjusted, and we are now in an global era (See Global Managers) but the ultimate mission of our nation hasn't changed at all!  The youngsters today might want to take note of a generation that overcame serious international challenges because it was the "right thing to do!" (The struggle continues on with the spirit of the past and the idealism of today's youth!👥)

The following was taken from Congress Bergman's Brief HERE. If you like to keep up for the news you can go on the site and subscribe. I encourage people to stay as informed as possible. Keeping up with the news can help businesses find new investment opportunities. Industries that are recovering from COVID are seeking new locations for investment. That can't happen unless they understand opportunities and information that creates an investment rich environment (See Trade and Investing in Global Supply Chains).

Week in Review

This week in D.C. has been quite busy with meetings, votes, interviews, and roundtables. Often while in DC, each half hour is filled with “virtual” and in-person discussions on differing topics. Discussions this week ranged from infrastructure priorities with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), savings and money policy with students from Boyne Falls, economic partnership priorities with Ontario, defense priorities for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a VA Health Subcommittee meeting, legislative priorities with constituents, and a meeting with VA Secretary McDonough - just to outline a few. I love the opportunity to discuss the broad array of issues affecting the daily lives of those who call the First District home. This week I introduced an important piece of legislation in support of our First District workers. Recent COVID-19 relief legislation gave a $10,200 tax deduction to individuals who lost their job over the past year and claimed unemployment. I found it incredibly frustrating that no such tax break was given to Americans who continued to work through the pandemic - keeping our economy functioning and running. This legislation would provide the $10,200 tax exclusion to all Americans making less than $150,000 if passed into law. Our workers - from our grocers to our nurses - deserve this tax break after the year they’ve gone through. I hope you take a few minutes to read more about this bill below. I appreciate each of you and look forward to talking more. Respectfully, Jack Bergman Bergman Forms Rural Connectivity Advisory Committee Rep. Jack Bergman announced the formation of the Rural Connectivity Advisory Committee for Michigan’s First District. The Committee will serve as a forum where Rep. Bergman, internet service providers, local and tribal leaders, and stakeholder groups can share ideas, opportunities, and solutions in the fight to address the critical lack of connectivity in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. Some key goals of the Committee include: Identifying underlying issues behind the lack of connectivity in Michigan’s First District; Exploring actionable solutions to bridge the digital divide in Michigan’s rural communities; Seeking coordination among federal, state, local, tribal, and private partners; Informing members and constituents of ongoing efforts and available resources; and Hearing from relevant government officials involved in broadband programs. Read the full release here The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Offers Presentation USPTO Midwest Regional Outreach Office will present to the Michigan UP community, an overview of intellectual property types. About this Event: Although this event is virtual, and open to anyone, it is specifically reaching out to the communities serviced by the Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Michigan Technological University servicing the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Regional Outreach Officer and Assistant Outreach Advisor will conduct a discussion will present a discussion that will cover: an overview of intellectual property types: patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, why innovators and entrepreneurs should consider protecting their IP, and local resources and assistance available through the USPTO and other agencies. Register Online and ALSO CLICK HERE to register at USPTO to receive the webinar connection information. Michigan Teacher Announced as Space Foundation Teacher Liaison The new flight of Teacher Liaisons will be honored at the Teacher Liaison Virtual Workshop during Space Foundation’s upcoming 36th Space Symposium. In addition to the recognition activities, Teacher Liaisons will participate in a workshop featuring special guests and speakers. Read more here House Armed Services Committee On April 14th, Rep. Bergman attended a full committee briefing on “National Security Challenges and U.S. Military Activity in North and South America.”  Members heard testimony from the Department of Defense, U.S. Northern Command, and U.S. Southern Command officials.  Testimony covered topics including U.S. force postures in the regions, security challenges, partner capacity building and defense of the homeland.  During the briefing, Rep. Bergman questioned whether current assumptions about the threat to the homeland are correct and the preparedness of U.S. Northern Command to conduct operations in the homeland.   He also questioned which naval platforms should be considered for use in U.S. Southern Command. Follow Team Bergman on Social Media I want to stay connected with my constituents in the First District. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up to date on the latest events, news, and information