National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019

Floor Speech

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Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Chairman, once again, I stand on the floor of this great body to urge my colleagues to support American manufacturing and American workers.

The first shovel was struck into the ground in Rome, New York, to build the Erie Canal, which started the Industrial Revolution in America on July 4, 1817. We were booming. Paul Revere started his company there. Remington Arms was founded just down the road in Ilion, New York, which supplied our military with firearms. These two iconic companies remain, but many more have left.

Throughout our Nation and the region that I represent, factories that once boomed with activity and production are now shuttered and empty. Meanwhile, an entire segment of the population has been pushed out of the workforce.

President Trump described the America we know in central New York in his first inaugural speech: Our manufacturing plants are now ``rusted out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape.''

In the 22nd District, the Rust Belt of New York, and in many other regions across this Nation, economic activity has been on a consistent downturn. Well-paying manufacturing jobs have become increasingly hard to come by, leaving former industrial communities like ours empty as families and businesses flee in droves. In my home State of New York, we have lost 1 million residents since 2010 alone.

Here in Washington and in State capitals across the country, special interests have been placed before the American worker. It is time to put our citizens and our workforce first.

Mr. Chairman, the amendment that I have introduced will level the playing field for American companies, and it will show our American workforce that they have not been forgotten. And importantly, it will reduce our military's dependence on foreign goods.

For 30 years, the Berry amendment included a domestic sourcing for stainless steel flatware. However, in 2006, the provision was removed when Oneida Limited, once in our region, the sole Berry-compliant manufacturer in the U.S., closed its U.S.-based factories and moved its operations to China, where almost all flatware is now manufactured.

In a true American comeback story worthy of a Hollywood Cinderella story, two former Oneida Limited employees opened a new company, Sherrill Manufacturing.

Greg Owens and Matt Roberts purchased Oneida's closed factory and old equipment. They refurbished the old equipment and opened Sherrill Manufacturing. They hired many former Oneida Limited employees and now have a workforce of nearly 80. The product line Sherrill employees create is appropriately known as Liberty Tabletop.

This former factory ``tombstone'' on our landscape is now a symbol of American ingenuity, craftsmanship, hard work, and freedom.

The story of rebirth has given hope to my district. Sherrill Manufacturing has a strong and proven record of selling high-quality products at market prices. Since 2008, Sherrill has been among the top providers of flatware to the Department of Defense and the General Services Administration, fulfilling more than $6.8 million in Federal contracts over the subsequent 8 years.

While I understand that there may be some concerns that this domestic sourcing provision will increase costs, GSA has already found Sherrill's flatware to be offered at ``fair and reasonable'' prices, which is a major reason why the agency already purchases flatware from Sherrill.

Most importantly, my amendment retains all existing waivers under the Berry amendment, unlike some other Berry amendments. In the case of negative changes to price or quality, the Department of Defense can use other sources of flatware, including in other countries. Under this amendment, it doesn't cost the Department of Defense anything to use Sherrill.

Mr. Chairman, at this time, it is true that the only current Berry- compliant flatware manufacturer is located in my district. It is Sherrill. However, that does not mean that others who support domestic manufacturing cannot begin production and comply with this amendment.

Opening a door for American manufacturers can encourage entrepreneurs across the country to start an operation of their own. My amendment encourages the American, free market principles of competition and ingenuity. Again, this amendment does not cost the Department of Defense.

Passing this amendment will prove to American entrepreneurs and visionaries that Congress' stated support for American jobs and American manufacturing is not merely just lip service. It shows Congress is committed to putting our Nation back on the path to prosperity.

I would like to thank my colleagues who had cosponsored this bipartisan amendment: My fellow New Yorker, Representative John Katko, who has 15 businesses in the neighboring New York district he represents that are a part of the Sherrill Manufacturing supply chain; Representatives Poliquin and Lipinski, both great supporters of domestic sourcing and Buy America; Representative Walter B. Jones, a dedicated member of the House Armed Services Committee; and Representative Tim Ryan, an outspoken advocate for American manufacturing.

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Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Chairman, again, I want to emphasize that this amendment supports American manufacturing, helps a domestic supply chain that spans 40 congressional districts from New York to California, and decreases the Department of Defense's dependence on foreign producers and goods.

Removing the variability and uncertainty that comes with foreign sourcing of necessary materials for our military is the smart thing to do, considering almost all our goods of this type are now made in China.

Mr. Chairman, today we have the opportunity to give American manufacturing the boost it deserves, while adding a measure of certainty to DOD procurement, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

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Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

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