U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
05/13/2021 | Press release | Archived content
Senate Advances Peters and Stabenow Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen American Manufacturing and Create Jobs in Michigan
Senate Advances Peters and Stabenow Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen American Manufacturing and Create Jobs in Michigan
Thursday, May 13, 2021WASHINGTON D.C. - Legislation by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to strengthen Buy American laws has advanced in the Senate. The Make It in America Act will strengthen Buy American requirements and close loopholes to ensure the federal government is spending taxpayer dollars on American-made products that support American companies and workers, and create American jobs. The legislation was approved by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where Peters serves as Chair.
'Making sure taxpayer dollars are being used to buy products made by Michiganders and Americans will not only create good paying jobs, but bolster our competitiveness with countries like China,' said Senator Peters, Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. 'I'm pleased this commonsense legislation has advanced in the Senate. I will fight to ensure it becomes law so we can continue to invest in Michigan and American workers and help build a stronger economy.'
'Over the years I've led the effort to make sure that America's workers and manufacturers are first in line when it comes to government contracts and spending. There's no question that American tax dollars should be used to create American jobs by purchasing American products, not products made overseas,' said Senator Stabenow. 'I'm glad that my bipartisan, commonsense legislation is moving forward and now can be considered by the full Senate.'
Each year, federal agencies spend billions in taxpayer dollars to buy products from the private sector. The 1933 Buy American Act requires federal agencies to give preferential treatment to manufacturers of high quality, American-made goods and products. Unfortunately, loopholes, waivers, and outright violations have allowed federal agencies to buy products overseas - leaving our American manufacturers behind.
The Make It in America Act would close loopholes in our Buy American laws and make waivers public. For example, the bill would stop the use of the 'public interest' waiver if a foreign contract would decrease American employment. The bill also calls for federal agencies to purchase products with more American-made content. The bill would also require that each waiver to the Buy American Act be publicly posted online with detailed justifications.
The bill would create a new 'Made in America Office' within the Office of Management and Budget, charged with reviewing waivers to the Buy American Act and ensuring compliance with other Buy American laws. This office mirrors President Biden's executive order to create a central office dedicated to enforcing Buy American laws.
Finally, the Make It in America Act would give small- and medium-sized American manufacturers an opportunity to provide products for federally-funded transportation projects.
Peters has led numerous efforts to support American manufacturers and workers. This past December, Peters' bipartisan bill to grant Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEP) federal funding to help small- and medium-sized manufacturers across the country expand growth, maintain staff and adapt to market changes was signed into law. Peters also previously introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure that American taxpayer dollars are used to buy American-made iron, steel and manufactured products for federally funded infrastructure projects. Additionally, Peters previously introduced legislation that would address outsourcing and reform the tax code to reward businesses that bring jobs back from foreign countries.
In 2018, Senator Stabenow released her Buy American reportthat found exceptions and waivers to the Buy American Act allowed federal agencies to spend $92 billion on foreign-made products between 2008 and 2016. Senator Stabenow's Make It in America Act addresses the abuses identified in this report. The bill is part of her American Jobs Agenda, which will ensure we are making products in America, closing loopholes that send jobs overseas, and holding countries like China accountable for unfair trade practices.
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