HR 9155

1	House Resolution
2	A resolution recognizing November 3-7, 2008, as "Florida
3	Manufacturers Week" in Florida.
4
5	WHEREAS, Florida manufacturers currently number 16,911
6	companies, employing 390,200 residents, and
7	WHEREAS, manufacturing in Florida contributes $35.9 billion
8	to the state's gross domestic product and represents 93 percent
9	of all exports originating in Florida, and
10	WHEREAS, Florida manufacturers are doing business in 222
11	countries, with Brazil, Canada, Venezuela, Mexico, and Colombia
12	being the top five countries importing Florida products, and
13	WHEREAS, Florida manufacturers provide well-paying jobs
14	that require many advanced skills, generating an average annual
15	wage of $46,540, and
16	WHEREAS, Florida manufacturers are engaged in a wide
17	variety of manufacturing businesses, including computer and
18	electronic products; transportation equipment; fabricated metal
19	products; food; mineral products; machinery; printing; wood and
20	paper products; chemicals; furniture; plastics and rubber
21	products; beverages; textile products; apparel; energy products;
22	cement and concrete; medical equipment; architectural products;
23	aerospace products; semiconductor and electronic components;
24	ships and boats; household products; and communication
25	equipment, and
26	WHEREAS, Florida ranks third in the nation in communication
27	equipment and defense electronic manufacturing employment;
28	fourth in photonics and high-tech manufacturing employment; and
29	in the top 10 in electronics components, semiconductors, and
30	electromedical equipment manufacturing employment, and
31	WHEREAS, Florida is currently faced with a shortage of
32	skilled and trained workers for the manufacturing sector, and
33	WHEREAS, Florida manufacturers are actively engaged in the
34	education and training of their future workforce through
35	partnerships with state agencies and educational institutions,
36	and
37	WHEREAS, Florida manufacturers are competing with other
38	states and countries for market share, and their success in this
39	competition is vital because the state's manufacturing sector
40	provides a major stabilizing influence on Florida's economy,
41	NOW, THEREFORE,
42
43	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
44	Florida:
45
46	That the Florida House of Representatives recognizes the
47	great importance of the manufacturing sector to Florida's
48	economy and recognizes November 3-7, 2008, as "Florida
49	Manufacturers Week."

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.