Boyle Announces Legislation to Reward "Patriot Employers," Punish Offshorers Outside Old Nabisco Plant

Press Release

Today, during a press conference held in front of the rubble of the former Nabisco Plant in Northeast Philadelphia, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13) condemned the corporate giant that formerly occupied the building and announced his forthcoming legislation with Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-9) and Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) to reward companies that keep good jobs in the United States and punish those that do not. The Patriot Employer Act would provide a tax credit for businesses that invest in workers in the United States and offer them good wages and benefits, while closing a loophole that currently allows corporations to write off costs overseas and encourages offshoring.

"When the billionaires at Mondeléz decided to close this plant and move production to Mexico, they didn't just leave an empty building behind -- they left a gaping hole in this community. They left hundreds of lives in pieces, and we're standing here today in the wreckage," said Congressman Boyle, alongside a group of former workers who lost their livelihoods when the plant closed. "What happened here is a disgrace -- but it is totally legal, and almost invited by our tax code. That's why I'm introducing legislation to give companies real incentives to stay and grow in the United States -- and real, serious consequences if they leave."

"This is a carrot and stick approach," continued Boyle, "because we need to use every tool at our disposal to put workers and their families first. No more tax loopholes for CEOs who screw over American workers just to jack up their own salaries. No more abandoned factories and forgotten communities. American workers are not disposable. It's time to fix an economy that is rigged against working families, and we can start with our tax code."

The former Kraft and Nabisco plant ceased production in June of 2015, resulting in layoffs for 350 workers. The Patriot Employer Act would raise taxes for companies like Mondeléz, the former owner of the plant, that invest in low-wage manufacturing overseas while killing jobs in the United States. Through revenue from these taxes, the bill would provide a tax credit for "Patriot Employers," U.S.-based companies that empower the American workforce by recruiting veterans, paying fair wages, and contributing to retirement security.

Congressman Boyle has vehemently criticized Mondeléz's decision to close the Philadelphia plant since it was first announced. He even led a boycott of Mondeléz products, urging consumers to "Say No to Oreo' in a widely publicized 2015 speech on the floor of the House of Representatives. As a co-chair of the Blue Collar Caucus, Boyle has been a consistent champion of policies that serve the middle class and working families by investing in quality American jobs. He was recently appointed co-chair of the new Jobs with Dignity task force by Democratic House Leadership.

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