Congressional Made in America Promise Act of 2010

I want to thank Chairman Brady for his leadership and the expeditious manner in which his committee dealt with this bill. I thank him for his leadership on jobs in America all the time.

I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 2039 when it comes to a vote later today, the Made in America Promise Act, which applies the provisions of the Buy America Act that already apply to the executive branch to the legislative branch, the Congress. It is apparent to all America that we are facing a daunting job deficit.

Over 14.9 million people still are out of work. Moreover, in 2009, our Nation racked up a trade deficit of $375 billion, and this year it's likely to be double that, with more imports coming into our Nation than exports going out. For every billion dollars of trade deficit, we lose a minimum of 10,000 more jobs.

Without this mammoth trade deficit, our economy this year would have grown 5 percent. Instead, growth was readjusted downward to 1.5 percent, a huge 3-point drop, and the worst growth rate since 1947, because trade deficits matter.

For America to address this job gap, our unconscious Nation must develop a consciousness to make it in America again, because production here equals jobs in America. That consciousness must begin here in Congress in the highest law-making branch of our Nation.

This bill applies the Buy America provisions to the legislative branch. To illustrate, just in perusing the gift shops that tourists come through in the House and Senate--and even the new congressional visitors center--look what we found, Chinese calculators, it says here on the lower United States Senate, but then look where it's made-- China. There are umbrellas from China, a children's briefcase, even

with a symbolic seal from the Philippines, and an elephant piggy bank from Indonesia. We couldn't buy everything they displayed, but let me tell you, there was no consciousness that Congress should be supporting goods made in America, here at the highest lawmaking branch of our country.

How can Congress expect to strengthen American industry and create American jobs if it itself is not buying American-made goods? If there is one place in our country that should showcase items made in the U.S.A., it is right here in the Congress. How can the American people trust Congress to be responsible if it is selling goods that create jobs in other places, not here in America?

That is why H.R. 2039 was introduced in the first place, because we must employ at this time of high unemployment every opportunity to help turn our economic ship of state in a positive direction. This bill creates a clear standard. It says we must change our practices. It says we must restore manufacturing in America.

It begins to do this by raising the consciousness of our Nation that the legislative branch of our Federal Government steps forward to say it is time to make goods in America again. That is where new jobs will come from.

Under the Buy America Act, current law states that the Federal Government, but not the legislative branch, must buy American-made products. But when this bill passes, the Congressional Made in America Promise Act will apply the Buy America Act to Congress.

In addition, when dealing with any product bearing an official insignia of the House, the Senate and the Congress, H.R. 2039 will prohibit the exceptions of not purchasing American goods if they are inconsistent with the public interest, not made in sufficiently available commercial quantities, or under the price of $2,500. This means the only exceptions will be if the goods produced here are unreasonable in cost or not used in the United States.

This Congress has taken steps to close tax loopholes that reward large corporations that outsource business and jobs overseas. We are providing tax credits to help small businesses hire new employees and sell their products and innovation overseas, but we need to do more. Congress must lead by example.

I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 2039, help create jobs in America, help rebuild American industry by building in America once again. Vote for the Made in America Promise Act.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2039) to clarify the applicability of the Buy American Act to products purchased for the use of the legislative branch, to prohibit the application of any of the exceptions to the requirements of such act to products bearing a Congressional seal, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous matters on the measure now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

On behalf of my committee, I am pleased to bring this bill to the House. This is a very important bill designed to help create more jobs in America. Offered by our colleague, the gentlelady from Ohio, H.R. 2039 extends the requirements of the Buy American Act to the legislative branch of government, including the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Several legislative branch agencies already abide by the Buy American Act, including the Government Printing Office, the Library of Congress, and the Architect of the Capitol. But the House and Senate are exempt from the Buy American Act, and it's time for that to change.

The House and the Senate buy things, many things: Pencils, pens, paper, envelopes, furniture, furnishings, office machines, and equipment of every kind. You name it. There are no reasons that Buy American requirements should not apply to the Congress as to any other Federal agency. That's what the gentlelady's legislation will accomplish.

From my perspective as chairman of the House Administration Committee, H.R. 2039 will provide us with one more tool we can use to prevent the purchase of foreign-made goods when suitable American-made goods are available.

Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill. I commend the gentlelady for introducing it, and I urge the House to pass it.

Mr. Speaker, I now yield 5 minutes to the sponsor of the bill, the distinguished gentlelady from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my colleague on the Committee of House Administration, the gentlewoman from California, Susan Davis.

Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2039, the Congressional Made in American Promise Act. I commend Representative Marcy Kaptur for her leadership on this issue and working to get the bill passed.

Today, we are considering legislation that will help improve the Buy American Act, which requires the United States government to purchase goods produced and manufactured in the United States, when it is in the best interest of the United States to do so. Specifically, H.R. 2039 would amend the Buy American Act so that ``Buy American'' statutory requirements are applied to articles, materials and supplies used by Congressional offices. Further, the Made in America Promise Act requires that any article containing the Congressional seal be purchased from American vendors, without exception.

Mr. Speaker, this Act is an important part of the Democratic plan to assist Main Street Americans--hard-working, talented, dedicated workers. Citizens of Michigan's 15th Congressional District, unfortunately, have long been victims of outsourcing and unfair trade agreements, even before the Great Recession began. They have seen their jobs shipped overseas in large part because of corporate tax breaks encouraging outsourcing and trade policies that lower labor standards and do nothing to open up new markets for U.S. goods.

This legislation is part of an ongoing effort to save and create American jobs and continue our country on the path to economic recovery. What we have here is a choice between protecting the wealth of some versus creating opportunity for all. I ask my colleagues to join me in voting for opportunity.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2039.

Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of H.R. 2039, the Congressional Made in America Promise Act of 2009.

This bipartisan legislation ensures that the rules of the Buy American Act that apply to all states and federal agencies also apply to Congress. Under current law, states and the federal government must buy only American made products. Though exemptions exist for cases where public interest, cost or unavailability make purchasing the good prohibitive, all goods purchased by state and federal governments must be produced in the United States. Congress, however, is not subjected to this requirement.

Promoting American job growth is a priority for this Congress. This common sense legislation is example of our commitment. If passed, this legislation will apply a standard for procurement that exceeds that enforced by states and federal agencies. Any product bearing the official congressional insignias, including goods bearing a mark resembling the official seals of the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and the U.S. Congress, will have to be made in America.

Mr. Speaker, the president has set an ambitious goal to significantly increase this country's exports over the next two years. This legislation contributes to that effort by ensuring that goods procured by states, federal agencies and Congress are made in the U.S.A. I encourage my colleagues to join me in support of the bill.

Madam Speaker, on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 15, 2010, I could not be present for votes due to a commitment back in Michigan. Had I been present I would have voted the following.

House rollcall vote 521 on H.R. 2039--Congressional Made in America Promise Act, I would have voted ``yes.''

House rollcall vote 522 on H.R. 5873--To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 218 North Milwaukee Street in Waterford, Wisconsin, as the ``Captain Rhett W. Schiller Post Office'', I would have voted ``yes.''

House rollcall vote 523 on H. Res. 1522--Expressing support for designation of the last week of September as National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and the last Wednesday of September as National Previvor Day, I would have voted ``yes.''

House rollcall vote 524 on H.R. 5366--Overseas Contractor Reform Act, I would have voted ``yes.''

House rollcall vote 525 on H. Res. 1610--Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the terrorist attacks launched against the United States on September 11, 2001, I would have voted ``yes.''