# 274: The Auto Rescue, Critical Minerals, and Moving Manufacturing Forward with Representative Haley Stevens

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2026-02-10
- Length: 36m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-10-274-the-auto-rescue-critical-minerals-and-moving-manufacturing-forward-with-repr
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Representative Haley Stevens, who served as chief of staff in President Obama's U.S. auto rescue task force, discusses her 'Unearth America's Future Act' to reduce U.S. dependence on China for critical minerals like lithium and graphite. She explains how the 2008 auto rescue saved 200,000 Michigan jobs and highlights the importance of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership centers in supporting small and midsize manufacturers. Stevens advocates for loan guarantees, tax credits, and a revised tax code to lower costs and create jobs, emphasizing that bringing the entire supply chain, including refining and recycling, back to the U.S. is essential for national security and economic resilience.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-10-274-the-auto-rescue-critical-minerals-and-moving-manufacturing-forward-with-repr#t=0) Introduction: Industrial Marketing Summit Sponsor Read
- [2:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-10-274-the-auto-rescue-critical-minerals-and-moving-manufacturing-forward-with-repr#t=121) Introduction: Representative Haley Stevens and Background
- [9:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-10-274-the-auto-rescue-critical-minerals-and-moving-manufacturing-forward-with-repr#t=567) The Auto Rescue: Saving 200,000 Michigan Jobs
- [13:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-10-274-the-auto-rescue-critical-minerals-and-moving-manufacturing-forward-with-repr#t=802) Resilient Leadership and the Skills Gap
- [16:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-10-274-the-auto-rescue-critical-minerals-and-moving-manufacturing-forward-with-repr#t=964) Innovation, Industry 4.0, and Barriers to Entry
- [19:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-10-274-the-auto-rescue-critical-minerals-and-moving-manufacturing-forward-with-repr#t=1188) Critical Minerals and the Unearth America's Future Act
- [24:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-10-274-the-auto-rescue-critical-minerals-and-moving-manufacturing-forward-with-repr#t=1491) Manufacturing Mondays and Supply Chain Visits
- [30:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-10-274-the-auto-rescue-critical-minerals-and-moving-manufacturing-forward-with-repr#t=1804) Tax Code, Workforce Empowerment, and Future Optimism

## Topics

- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- General Motors (company)
- UAW (other)
- Chipping In Act (other)
- Unearth America's Future Act (other)
- Chips Act (other)
- Manufacturing Extension Partnership (other)
- Sheehan (company)
- Elpha USA (company)
- Williams (company)
- Hall (company)
- Forvia (company)
- Vallejo (company)
- Light Guide Systems (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Turning the E-Waste Stream Into a National Asset w/ Matt Bedingfield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-07-21-turning-the-e-waste-stream-into-a-national-asset-w-matt-bedingfield) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [The Big Switch: Are Batteries the New Oil?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-04-11-the-big-switch-are-batteries-the-new-oil) (Catalyst)
- [Self-Protecting Data | How to Bring Back U.S. Manufacturing | Galvanized](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-04-24-self-protecting-data-how-to-bring-back-u-s-manufacturing-galvanized) (EE Times Current)
- [PCBs, Global Innovation Policy & the CHIPS Act](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-02-27-pcbs-global-innovation-policy-the-chips-act) (OnTrack)
- [Building a U.S.-based supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-06-05-building-a-u-s-based-supply-chain) (The Robot Report Podcast)

## Citing this page

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