U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin: Taking Action on Buy American to Support a Made in Wisconsin Economy
In Wisconsin, we have a long and proud tradition of making things. That’s what we do and we do it well. We possess one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the nation, supporting a large share of our workforce and exporting goods all over America and the world.
That’s why one of my top priorities in the Senate has been championing Buy American policies that support our manufacturers and workers, and can boost our Made in Wisconsin economy.
In 2016, Donald Trump campaigned on “Buy American, Hire American,” and when he took office, I pledged to work with him on this issue. Over the course of Trump’s four year term, I pushed him and his administration on strong Buy American standards. But while we got a lot talk and tweets, and endless promises of an “Infrastructure Week” that never came, he failed to deliver.
Democrats and Republicans agree we need to put America to work rebuilding our roads, highways, bridges and water infrastructure. And I strongly believe U.S. taxpayer money should not be spent buying foreign products and supporting foreign workers.
American workers should build our infrastructure with Made in America products. It’s as simple as that.
Immediately after President Biden was sworn in to office, I called for him to use his executive authority to boost our economy by directing all federal agencies to maximize the amount of Made in America materials and products our government purchases, funds, and finances.
It’s good to now have a new President who listens.
In his first week, President Biden signed an Executive Order to strengthen Buy American policies to support manufacturers, businesses and workers to ensure that our future is made in America by all of America’s workers.
This is an essential first step to ensuring that when the federal government spends taxpayer dollars, they are spent on American-made goods by American workers and with American-made component parts.
President Biden’s Executive Order takes action to:
- Direct federal agencies to close current loopholes in how domestic content is measured and increase domestic content requirements.
- Appoint a new senior leader in the Executive Office of the President in charge of the government’s Made-in-America policy approach.
- Increase oversight of potential waivers to domestic preference laws to help crack down on unnecessary waivers that undermine Made in America.
- Connect new businesses to contracting opportunities by directing agencies to utilize the Manufacturing Extension Partnership — a national network in all 50 states and Puerto Rico that supports small and medium-size manufacturers — to help agencies connect with new domestic suppliers who can make the products they need while employing America’s workers.
- Reiterate the President’s strong support for the Jones Act and its mandate that only U.S.-flag vessels carry cargo between U.S. ports, which supports American production and America’s workers.
- Direct a cross-agency review of all domestic preferences and requires agencies to report on their implementation of current Made in America laws and make recommendations for achieving the President’s Made in America goals.
Expanding and enhancing Buy American standards is a key part of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda and I want to applaud him for taking action to support American manufacturers and workers here at home.
It’s a new day, and I look forward to working together with President Biden because I know he is committed to taking action to support American manufacturers and our workers here at home.
Now is the time to get the job done for them. Their hard work deserves respect… and results.
That’s why I’m going to continue working with Democrats and Republicans in the Senate, and with President Biden and his administration, to make sure America is buying what Wisconsin makes.
