** FILE ** President Barack Obama, flanked by Vice President Joseph R. Biden and House Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio, gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
President Barack Obama gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Secretary of State John Kerry, right, greets Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., center, and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz, before President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Supreme Court Justices, from left, Chief Justice John Roberts, Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan await the start of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
Outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, left, shakes hands with Chief Justice John Roberts before President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak Pool)
From left, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. sit on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013, before President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress . (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
Bobak Ferdowsi, flight director, Mars Curiosity Rover, arrives as a guest of first lady Michelle Obama for President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2103, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Apple CEO Tim Cook sits as a guest of first lady Michelle Obama prior to the start of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress, Tuesday, Feb.12, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Ted Nuggent awaits the start of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Vice President Joe Biden, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., left, Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee, D-Texas, right, and others arrive on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2103, for President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., talks with Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md. on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013, before President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak Pool)
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., left, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. arrive on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013 for President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. arrives for President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J. arrives for President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
First lady Michelle Obama stands with Cleopatra Cowley-Pendelton before President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
From left, Supreme CourtJustice Elena Kagan, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey and outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta talk prior to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
President Barack Obama is greeted before his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
President Barack Obama has lipstick wiped from his face as he arrive to give his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Vice President Joe Biden talks with House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio before President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
President Barack Obama is greeted before giving his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
Secretary of State John Kerry greets President Barack Obama before the president's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. Sen.Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. is at right, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is at center. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
President Barack Obama gestures toward Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio before giving his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
President Barack Obama waves before giving his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio stand behind the president. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
President Barack Obama, flanked by Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, gestures as he gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
President Barack Obama gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
President Obama gestures while giving his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
First lady Michelle Obama is applauded before President Barck Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. Front row, from left are, Sgt. Sheena Adms, Nathaniel Pendleton, Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton, Mrs, Obama, Menchu de Luna Sanchez and Jill Biden. Second row, third from left are, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber, Deb Carey and Apple CEO Tim Cook Amanda McMillian, Lt. Brian Murphy, (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio listens at right as President Barack Obama gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy of Calif. left, and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor listen during President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
President Barack Obama, flanked by Vice President John Biden and House Speaker John Boehner smiles as he gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
Vice President Joe Biden applauds as President Barack Obama gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio sits at right. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
From left, Attorney General Eric Holder, outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Secretary of State John Kerry applaud during President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
President Barack Obama gestures as he gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
President Barack Obama gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
President Barack Obama gestures as he gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
President Barack Obama gestures as he gives his State of the Union ... more >
Trying to build momentum on his State of the Union address, President Obama is traveling Wednesday to North Carolina to outline his $1 billion plan to boost U.S. manufacturing.
Mr. Obama will visit Linamar, a Canadian-owned auto-parts factory in Asheville, N.C., to discuss his proposal to create a network of 15 manufacturing “innovation institutes” nationwide.
In addition to his plan that would require congressional approval, the president is taking executive action to launch three of the new institutes as partnerships with businesses, universities and community colleges.
In his annual address to Congress Tuesday night, Mr. Obama emphasized programs that he said will help the middle class, including a $50 billion plan for rebuilding bridges and an ambitious expansion of early-childhood learning services.
“President Obama is committed to making America a magnet for jobs and manufacturing so we continue to build things the rest of the world buys,” the White House said in a statement Wednesday. “After shedding jobs for more than 10 years, our manufacturers have added about 500,000 over the past three.
“Manufacturing production has grown since the end of the recession at its fastest pace in over a decade. The President’s plan builds on that momentum by investing in American manufacturing,” the White House added.
Mr. Obama also wants to end to tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas, make permanent the research and development tax credit and lower the tax rate for manufacturers to 25 percent.
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Dave Boyer is a White House correspondent for The Washington Times. A native of Allentown, Pa., Boyer worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer from 2002 to 2011 and also has covered Congress for the Times. He is a graduate of Penn State University. Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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