Brown and Khanna Lead Democratic Lawmakers in Letter to Commerce and Labor in Response to Conn-Selmer Closure, Offshoring of Union Jobs to China

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11), a member of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party and Congressman Ro Khanna (CA-17) Ranking Member of the Select Committee, a member of the Select Committee, led a letter to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer expressing concern over the announced closure of Conn-Selmer’s manufacturing facility in Eastlake, Ohio and the company’s decision to offshore production to China.

“The skilled workers at Conn-Selmer have spent decades building world-class instruments and their company, and they deserve better than seeing their jobs shipped overseas. The Trump Administration loves to pay lip service to rebuilding American manufacturing, yet stories like these undercut that promise. If we’re serious about competing with China, it starts with standing up for communities like Eastlake and fighting to keep good-paying, union jobs right here in Northeast Ohio,” said Congresswoman Brown.  

“For more than 60 years, workers in Eastlake have produced brass musical instruments that helped build Conn-Selmer into the largest manufacturer of band and orchestra instruments in the United States. The facility currently employs 148 members of UAW Local 2359 who earn family-sustaining wages and possess highly specialized manufacturing skills,” the lawmakers wrote. “Facilities like this one have long served as the backbone of American manufacturing communities, supporting local economies and sustaining generations of skilled workers.”

The lawmakers emphasized, “the closure of this facility raises serious questions about the administration’s stated goals to level the playing field with China and bring manufacturing jobs back to American communities.”       

“Conn-Selmer Eastlake workers have proudly built USA-made brass instruments for decades, and the White House has an opportunity to step in and save this plant from offshoring over 140 good jobs,” said UAW Region 2B Director David Green. “This company is an American legacy, and if you want to sell in America, you should build in America, not China.’ 

The letter requests information on how the administration is addressing the continued offshoring of American manufacturing jobs to China and what steps the administration is taking to work with Congress to support workers displaced by offshoring.

Co-signers include Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), and Donald Norcross (NJ-01).

Read the letter here. 

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