In a new report, Preparing for 21^st Century Risks, issued by the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) on July 25, the two lead authors, Tom Ridge, the first Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and Robert B. Stephan, a former Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Infrastructure Protection, and Distinguished Visiting Fellow (DVF) of the Homeland Security Studies and Analysis Institute (HSSAI) write: “There is a direct nexus between a strong domestic manufacturing sector and America’s ability to prevent, mitigate, recover from, and rebuild quickly in the wake of catastrophic events. Revitalizing America’s domestic manufacturing capacity must become a clear and urgent national priority at all levels of government and among industry leaders.”

The report looked at recent disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina and the Japan Earthquake and Fukishima Nuclear Reactor Disaster of 2011. It also examined new threats such as cyber attacks and pandemics. The conclusions are: “The United States now relies on foreign suppliers for everything from steel, cement, batteries, and critical high-technology components to everyday medical supplies such as antibiotics and penicillin.”

The specific recommendations offered by the report include revitalizing manufacturing, investment in America’s infrastructure using U.S.-made materials, strengthened public-private collaboration, and enforcement of trade laws.

“The nation’s worn out infrastructure is the soft underbelly that provides an inviting target for attacks that can have a widespread, devastating impact,” said Robert Stephan. “Hardening our critical infrastructure is key to preventing and mitigating disastrous events such as terrorist attacks or natural disasters concerning power plants, pipelines, and transportation systems.”