Bill would promote domestic manufacturing

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Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) has introduced a bill to enhance requirements for federal agencies to purchase American-made products.

"Instead of purchasing foreign-made products that create jobs overseas, the federal government should spend American taxpayer dollars on American-made goods to support American workers," Cicilline said.

The measure would amend the 1933 law known as the Buy American Act, which requires federal government to prioritize buying domestically produced goods for its needs. Under the proposal, federal agencies' ability to waive requirements to only purchase domestic goods would be limited.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

The waiver exists to allow agencies to purchase goods abroad if they are unavailable in the U.S., but Cicilline and Murphy argued that it is frequently overused.

"Too many loopholes exist within the law that allow the federal government to circumvent buying American-made goods, ultimately leaving our hardworking manufacturers in the dust," Murphy said.

Also included in the bill is a provision that would require companies to produce a majority of their materials in the U.S. in order to qualify for having American-made products.

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