As the Alabama legislature enters the 2016 session, legislators have one thing on their mind: how can we make the state of Alabama flourish again? As elected leaders, we understand our joint responsibility to create more jobs, maintain a stable economy, and perhaps the most significant task—work together to create a brighter future for Alabama.

These issues go hand-in-hand and we need our state and national leaders to make manufacturing growth a top-of-mind priority in order to yield increased economic stability.

Historically rich in iron and steel, Alabama had once secured itself as a manufacturing “hotspot” and much of our state’s growth was built upon this industry. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for today as the manufacturing industry has hit a standstill.

On a national level, an estimated one million jobs rely on a strong steel industry but with key manufacturing industries like steel at risk, middle class jobs continue to be eliminated.

Despite President Obama’s promise to create one million new manufacturing jobs in his second term, these jobs are slow in growth, with Alabama manufacturing jobs among the most suffering. Our state alone has lost more than 98,000 manufacturing jobs since 2001. In order for the state to reach a “full recession recovery,” the state will need to add an additional 41,300 manufacturing jobs.

We are fortunate to live in a state that has the infrastructure to attract and support a variety of manufacturing industries but there is much work to be done in bringing American-made goods back to America and thus creating jobs for Alabamians.

We cannot continue to put our jobs and economy at risk by allowing China to use the United States as a “dumping spot” for their overproduction of steel goods.

In order for Alabama state legislators to pave the way again for a flourishing state with a strong economy that continues to provide our neighbors with jobs, we must call on those in Washington who continue to strengthen foreign competitors through their unfair practices.

We are working hard in Montgomery to help Alabama’s economy, but we need leaders on the state and federal levels, especially those vying to be our next President, to create better policy solutions to bring back American-made manufacturing and Alabama jobs.

Through the creation of local manufacturing jobs and putting more Alabamians back in the workforce, the economy will improve. A sound economy will provide our state with a secure infrastructure and an improved way of life for current residents and the future leaders of tomorrow.