Chairwoman Stabenow to Host ‘Grow It Here, Make It Here’ Spotlight on Innovation

Washington, DC – Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, will host the ‘Grow It Here, Make It Here’ Spotlight on Innovation on Tuesday, June 17 in the Russell Senate Office Building. The day will begin with a Committee hearing followed by a corresponding educational event – both highlighting  how innovators and forward-thinking pioneers are fueling a revitalized manufacturing sector and creating jobs by harnessing the potential of biobased products.

‘Grow It Here, Make It Here’ Hearing – 10:00 a.m.

The spotlight will kick off with a Committee hearing at 10:00 a.m. in room 328A of the Russell Senate Office Building. The hearing, “Grow it Here, Make it Here: Creating Jobs through Biobased Manufacturing”, will examine the role that biobased products are playing in helping to revitalize and re-energize American manufacturing, and how that is helping to grow the economy and create jobs. A list of witnesses can be found below, or by clicking here.

Spotlight on Innovation Event – 11:30 a.m.

Immediately following the hearing, Chairwoman Stabenow will host a ‘Grow It Here, Make It Here’ Spotlight on Innovation event at 11:30 a.m. in the Kennedy Caucus Room, highlighting new technologies from more than 30 innovators from across the country leading the charge in biobased manufacturing. This event, also open to the public, will serve as an educational, hands-on complement to the hearing, featuring representatives from across the country who will provide insights and firsthand perspectives on how they are tapping into the potential of biobased manufacturing through innovation.

Quick Details – Tuesday, June 17

The hearing will begin at 10:00 a.m. in room 328-A of the Russell Senate Office Building (more information on the hearing can be found HERE).  Witnesses will include:

• Mr. Scott Vitters, General Manager, PlantBottle Innovation Platform, The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, GA
• Mr. Ashford A. Galbreath, Director, Advanced Materials and Comfort Engineering, Research and Development, Lear Corporation, Southfield, MI
• Mr. Kurtis Miller, BU President, Cargill Industrial Specialties, Cargill, Inc., Hopkins, MN
• Mr. Adam Monroe, President, Americas, Novozymes North America Inc., Franklinton, NC
• Mr. J.D. Hankins II, Vice President, Hankins, Inc., Ripley, MS

The corresponding Spotlight on Innovation event will begin at 11:30 a.m., immediately following the hearing, in the Kennedy Caucus Room (also in the Russell Senate Office Building). The event will remain open to the public until 1:30 p.m. A list of organizations participating in the event will be released soon.

These events are open to the press and public. For more information please visit the Senate Agriculture Committee website at http://ag.senate.gov.