Bill Breakdown: H.R. 2039 and H.R. 3116, Make It in America bills

Press Release

Yesterday, the House took up two bills as part of our "Make it in America" initiative to increase American manufacturing and create new American jobs. These bills require the Congress and Department of Homeland Security to purchase products that are Made in America. When we Make It In America, we create jobs to lead the world economy. Our national manufacturing strategy creates the high-skill, high-wage jobs of the future--promoting American competitiveness, innovation, and exports.

Congressional Made in America Promise Act, H.R. 2039 (Rep. Kaptur)

* Requires Congress to buy goods and services made by American workers for the first time since "Buy American" rules were instituted for federal agencies under President Roosevelt in 1933.
* Applies to "articles, materials, and supplies" used by House and Senate offices, and includes tighter Buy American requirements for items with the seal of Congress, the House, or Senate.

Berry Amendment Extension Act, H.R. 3116 (Rep. Kissell)

* Bars the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and all of its agencies from buying clothing, tents and "natural fiber products" that are not "grown, reprocessed, reused or produced" in America. (Requires implementation consistent with International trade agreements, with exceptions for emergency procurements and by vessels in foreign waters)
* For the last 60 years, the Berry Amendment has served our nation well requiring the Defense Department and the Coast Guard to buy a range of domestically produced or grown items with 100% U.S. content, and today we are voting to cover the DHS.
* The brave men and women of DHS deserve to wear uniforms made by American workers that share common goals and values, among them defending our national security.
* Supported by National Council of Textile Organizations, American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, National Cotton Council, United States Industrial Fabrics Institute, Workers United, and American Apparel and Footwear Association.
* This is critical to helping the U.S. textile and apparel industry, which has been battered by a flood of imports -- with a $575 billion trade deficit in textiles and apparel and a loss of 587,000 American middle-class textile and apparel manufacturing jobs since December 2000.

President Obama has already signed three manufacturing-boosting bills into law. These new laws:

* close tax loopholes that encourage companies to ship jobs overseas
* make it cheaper for U.S. companies to obtain the materials they need to manufacture goods
* speed innovation by breaking the backlog of patents awaiting approval

The House has also passed Make It In America legislation:

* calling for a national strategy to strengthen our manufacturing base and create jobs
* helping U.S. clean energy technology firms sell their products here and around the world
* building job-training partnerships among businesses, unions and educators
* taking steps to combat the trade imbalance, to strengthen our economy and national security.

These bills will create jobs and promote our competitiveness. I was proud to vote for these pieces of legislation, which are critical for Missouri's Fifth district and the nation as a whole.

Source