Nolan Joins Democratic Leaders in Announcing Major Additions to "Make It In America" Jobs Package

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan joined House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD) today to announce new legislation being added to the Democrats' Make It In America jobs plan to strengthen American manufacturing and bring jobs back to the U.S.

The comprehensive package includes wide-ranging reforms to the nation's tax, trade, job training, and investment policies. Nolan's bill establishes three annual Presidential awards recognizing companies for standout investments and innovations to promote jobs and economic development in America.

"We need to get to the business of creating good middle-class jobs here in America -- by making things in America," Nolan told a news conference held at the U.S. Capitol with Hoyer and dozens of House Democrats. "That requires us to reform our tax, trade, regulatory, and investment policies to encourage American companies to start here, grow here, innovate here, and provide world-class jobs and products right here in America."

Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer said: "I have been proud to serve alongside Rep. Rick Nolan in Congress and work with him to advance the goals of the bipartisan Make It In America jobs plan. His Presidential Make It In America Awards Act will help encourage businesses to bring jobs and innovation back to our shores, part of Democrats' ongoing efforts to promote a strong manufacturing sector that can put millions of Americans back to work in jobs that pay well and lead to middle-class opportunities. Rep. Nolan continues to be a tireless fighter on behalf of Minnesota workers and their families, and I thank him for taking a leading role in this important effort."

Nolan's ongoing "Make it in America" tour includes personal visits to more than forty companies throughout Minnesota's Eighth Congressional District.

Added Nolan, "We encourage "Make it in America' by recognizing and rewarding American companies and American workers who strengthen our economy by producing the best products in the world -- right here in our great nation. We also need to recognize companies around the globe who acknowledge American-made quality and know-how by bringing jobs and investment to our shores."

Nolan explained that his bill, the Presidential Make It In America Awards Act (H.R.4825), establishes three prestigious new Presidential awards to be made annually under the auspices of the Secretary of Commerce.

The Presidential Re-Shoring Award will honor the best example of a company that returns jobs to the United States from abroad.

The Presidential Invest in America Award will honor the best example of a major new "Make it in America' investment by a company to create new jobs.

And the Presidential Foreign Direct Investment Award will honor the best example of a foreign investor creating or expanding a business venture that creates new American jobs here in the United States.
Expanding on the need to encourage U.S. companies to invest in America, Nolan pointed out, "According to the Commerce Department and Working America, our nation has lost more than eight million good, middle-class manufacturing jobs over the past three decades, and some 51-thousand manufacturing plants over just the past ten years."

Nolan also cited the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as responsible for the loss of more than 1 million U.S. jobs, forcing some 845,000 American workers to apply for special Trade Adjustment Assistance, as factories have been relocated to take advantage of low-cost Mexican labor and lax health, safety, and environmental regulations.

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