Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016

Floor Speech

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Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I have come to the floor to address a very important choice for this Senate and, frankly, for President-Elect Trump.

The time is now for Donald Trump to take a stand in support of American workers by calling on Republican leadership in Congress to support strong ``Buy American'' requirements in the Water Resources Development Act, also known as the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act.

Just 1 week ago in Cincinnati, OH, President-Elect Trump said his infrastructure plan would follow two simple rules: ``Buy American and hire American.'' I support that position, strongly, but unfortunately the Republican establishment in Washington didn't hear him. They have removed my ``Buy American'' standard from this very important water infrastructure legislation, and Trump Tower has gone silent on this topic since last Thursday.
I believe the iron and steel used in water infrastructure projects should be made in America and that taxpayer dollars should go to support American jobs and manufacturers, not be spent on Chinese or Russian iron and steel.

My provision to require this was included in the version of the bill that passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support on a vote of 95 to 3. However, Speaker Ryan and House Republicans removed this ``Buy American'' reform from the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act, and there hasn't been a peep or a tweet from President-Elect Trump.

It is clear to me, and it should be clear to President-Elect Trump as well, that congressional Republicans are allowing corporate lobbyists, working on behalf of companies who import steel from Russia and China, to write the rules in Washington. Importers of cheap foreign steel from China and Russia have sought to eliminate or loosen these rules for their own benefit. According to media reports, including the Wall Street Journal, the importers and their foreign suppliers have hired the Washington, DC, lobbying firm Squire Patton Boggs to lobby the Republican leadership in the House against my ``Buy American'' standard, which would provide a long-term and solid commitment to American workers.

The firm's strategy relies upon, oh, that old revolving door--the firm employs former House Speaker John Boehner and several former top Republican aides--to gain access and influence over Congress. These reports suggest that corporate lobbyists are using their influence over Congress to support clients that do business with Russian and Chinese steel companies at the expense of American workers. That is why I am calling on President-Elect Trump to turn his words in Cincinnati, spoken just a week ago, into action and to join me in demanding that Republican leaders in Congress restore our strong ``Buy American'' standard in the final water infrastructure bill.

Together, with Senators Brown and Casey, we offered an amendment to restore this ``Buy American'' reform, and today we are demanding a vote. I come to the floor today to ask Majority Leader McConnell for that vote.
American manufacturers and steelworkers, like the men and women at Neenah Foundry in Wisconsin who helped build our Nation's water infrastructure, support our amendment, and they deserve a vote and a solid commitment from us on a strong ``Buy American'' standard.

Many people in the United States have seen this iconic symbol. Neenah Foundry--which supports the strong ``Buy American'' amendment-- manufactures, among other things, these manhole covers that we see all over.
Let us not ever see this.

President-Elect Trump has said that we need to ``drain the swamp,'' and that he will take on lobbyists and special interests that are writing the rules and rigging the game in Washington against American workers. If he is serious about ``draining the swamp'' and supporting American workers, it is time for him to end his silence and speak out publicly supporting and restoring this ``Buy American'' standard to the water infrastructure bill that is before the Senate today. It is time for a vote on a ``Buy American'' standard that respects and rewards American manufacturers and American workers.
Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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