Issues
Working Wisconsinites Buy American Act
With an increasing number of
jobs moving abroad, I strongly believe that the federal government
should make every effort to support domestic companies and
domestic workers by buying American-made goods.
On Febuary 16, 2005, I introduced S.395,
the Buy American
Improvement Act. My bill would strengthen the Buy American
Act of 1933, which is supposed to ensure that the federal
government supports domestic companies and domestic workers
by buying American-made goods. However, the existing Act allows
federal departments and agencies to waive buy-American requirements
in a number of circumstances.
My bill would strengthen the existing Act by tightening these
waivers. It would also require that information be provided
to Congress and to the American people about how often these
waivers are used by federal departments and agencies.
I am pleased that a modified version of my bill requiring
the government to report on its purchases of foreign-made
goods during the 2004 fiscal year was signed into law as part
of the fiscal year 2004 omnibus appropriations bill. This
reporting requirement was extended for goods purchased in
fiscal year 2005 as part of the fiscal year 2005 omnibus spending
bill. Prior to the enactment of this reporting requirement,
only the Department of Defense had to report annually on its
purchase of foreign goods. With American jobs heading overseas
at an alarming rate, I will continue to fight to make sure
that the federal government is spending U.S. taxpayer dollars
to support American jobs.
Buy
American Act
Improving Trade
Agreements
Keeping Companies
in the U.S.
Protecting
American Workers
Supporting
Wisconsin Jobs Main
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