Murphy Passes Key Buy American Measure Through House

Press Release

Congressman Chris Murphy today scored a major victory in his fight to ensure that when the federal government spends American tax dollars, it supports American jobs and American companies.
Murphy successfully passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that will allow the government to gather job creation information and consider that information in contracting decisions.

"Our premise is simple: the Defense Department should give preference to American manufacturers when awarding contracts. Most people assume we already consider American jobs when we hand over our defense dollars to contractors. Well, we don't, but we should."

Traveling across Connecticut and visiting manufacturers of all sizes, Murphy continually hears about unfair competition from foreign companies. He listens as people tell him countless stories of business being lost overseas. Murphy has responded by introducing and working to pass and a series of bills designed to boost American manufacturing. The American Jobs Matter Act is part of that effort.

Murphy's bill, which was re-cast into an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, will give manufacturers the opportunity to provide information to the Department of Defense regarding how their bid for a contract will affect domestic employment. The potential contractor would list on their bid the number of jobs created or retained if the bid is awarded. The bill would then allow the Defense Department to take this "Jobs Impact Statement" into consideration when deciding between different bidders.

Murphy introduced the measure in 2010 and again in 2011, in the Republican-controlled House, last year coming within just four votes of passing it.

"This is a big day for Buy American reform," Murphy added. "A majority of members of the House of Representatives stood with American workers and manufacturers today, and this is a fight I'm proud to continue until this becomes law."

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