Murphy, Blumenthal, Bipartisan Colleagues Call for Buy American Provision in Water Infrastructure Package

Press Release

U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), led by U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH), joined the fight to restore a "Buy America' provision in the Water Resources Development (WRDA) Act that would require the use of American-made iron and steel products in infrastructure projects. The Buy America rule already passed in the Senate version of the bill with broad bipartisan support, but it has been pulled from the compromise package reached between leaders in the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

"The American people spoke clearly in this past election that they want leaders who fight for the working class and who advance policies that create more jobs and grow the U.S. manufacturing sector. We urge you to heed their voices in the WRDA negotiations and ensure the DWSRF Buy America provisions are incorporated in the final bill," the Senators write.

The Buy America provision of the bill would require American-made steel and iron be used in infrastructure projects funded by the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. In a letter to Senate and House leaders sent today and signed by 23 of Blumenthal and Murphy's colleagues, the Senators told leaders to put the provision back into the final bill to support U.S. steel and iron workers and manufacturers.

The letter was also signed by U.S. Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Bob Casey (D-PA), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jon Tester (D-MT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Al Franken (D-MN), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Chris Coons (D-DE), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Gary Peters (D-MI).

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