Whether it's a Katrina-like hurricane, major earthquake or devastating terrorist attack, the decline in America’s industrial manufacturing base and the nation’s reliance on foreign suppliers for goods formerly made in the U.S.A. threatens our ability to prevent, repair and recover from a major catastrophe, a new report reveals.

U.S. voters across the political spectrum overwhelming have negative views of companies that outsource jobs to China and strongly support Buy America provisions, according to a poll released today by the Alliance for American Manufacturing. Voters also say strengthening manufacturing in the United States is a top economic priority and they back the creation of a national manufacturing strategy to better compete with foreign nations that already have them in place.

If there was ever a time to push Made in America products, the 2012 Summer Olympics is certainly it. However, according to an ABC News report, Team U.S.A. will be wearing Ralph Lauren uniforms Made in China when they compete in London this summer.

If anyone thinks U.S. manufacturing isn’t relevant to our lives today, they should consider this report from the Alliance for American Manufacturers pointing to the battle against raging wildfires in the western states:

The Associated Press is reporting that the sole U.S. manufacturer of a device to spray airborne fire retardant is no longer in business. This means that while Air National Guard units currently possess Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems (MAFFS), new MAFFS systems are no longer being made. This has led to concerns that future efforts to fight wildfires in the western U.S. may be hampered.

Meanwhile, says House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.):

Our overseas competitors are doubling down on investments in their workforces, in innovation, and in providing the tools that nurture manufacturing growth. Not only are other countries surging ahead in the number of engineers and scientists they graduate, but they are pouring money into basic research and technology development.

The number of new jobs rose by 80,000 in June and the unemployment rate stayed at 8.2 percent, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data out this morning. The boost in jobs is less than the 100,000 needed per month to keep up with the growing workforce, and far short of what’s needed to replenish the millions of jobs that have never been regained since the recession’s onset.

Private employment, which excludes government agencies, increased by 84,000 in June, the weakest in 10 months. In fact, the number of those working for public-sector jobs decreased by 4,000.

Larry Matheney, secretary-treasurer of the West Virginia AFL-CIO, wrote an Op-Ed Tuesday on economic patriotism, bringing quality manufacturing jobs back to America and supporting legislation that would  end  tax incentives to American corporations who send jobs overseas. 

Here is an excerpt:

This infographic says it all: Greedy corporations sitting on trillions in cash, while U.S. jobs are being shipped overseas.

Pass it along and take action: Text JOBS to 235246 to get info and action alerts to help bring America's jobs home.

The Department of Commerce's announcement of a preliminary countervailing duty (CVD) determination last week against wind towers from China is an important step in maintaining and expanding U.S. production in wind energy. Clean energy production and manufacturing have been a priority of the Obama administration. It also has been a target of the Chinese government’s five-year plan. U.S. trade actions need to be complimented by a manufacturing strategy.

That wailing siren you hear this Memorial Day is a national security alert set off by the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee. Their investigation into counterfeit electronic “uncovered overwhelming evidence of large numbers of counterfeit parts making their way into critical defense systems....And, it found overwhelming evidence that companies in China are the primary source of counterfeit parts.”

The U.S. Senate yesterday approved (78-20) legislation to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank through 2014. Last week, the House passed (330-90) the same bill and it now goes to the White House for President Obama’s signature.