Three Amendments by Reps. Edwards, Lipinski, and Murphy Included in Defense Authorization Will Spur Domestic Job Creation

Press Release

Representatives Donna F. Edwards (D-MD), Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), and Christopher Murphy (D-CT) today had three amendments included in the final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2010, H.R. 5136, which will direct the Department of Defense to drive economic growth through domestic job creation.

The three amendments:

* Would require the Department of Defense to solicit bids from domestic suppliers when procuring articles, materials, or supplies for use outside of the United States.

* Would require the Department of Defense to include in its yearly assessment of waivers granted under the Buy American Act an analysis of the domestic capacity to supply the articles, materials or supplies procured from overseas and an analysis of the reasons for the yearly increase or decrease in Buy American waivers granted.

* Would direct the Department of Defense to include the impact on domestic jobs in their periodic assessments of defense capability.

"These amendments close major loopholes and fix serious deficiencies within the Department of Defense (DOD) that foreign companies use to access contracts; resulting in the exclusion of domestic sources and elimination of American jobs," said Congresswoman Edwards. "My colleagues and I sent a clear message with these amendments to create a level playing field where American companies can compete and boost job creation in this country. We must buy American to build America."

"Today's vote was a victory for American workers, American manufacturers, and our national security," Congressman Lipinski said. "America should not have to rely on foreign companies to supply our men and women in uniform. Nor should we ever send taxpayer dollars overseas when they could be helping to create desperately needed jobs here at home. Each of these amendments will help level the playing field for American workers. As we fight to put Americans back to work, it's critical that taxpayer dollars "Buy American.'"

"Our national defense policy can no longer be blind to the reality of this recession and to the needs of our manufacturing workforce," said Congressman Murphy. "This Buy American effort will begin to turn the focus to creating jobs in shops in Connecticut and across the country instead of shipping our tax dollars overseas."

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