Boswell Votes to Grow U.S. Manufacturing Industry, Add Jobs

Press Release

Today, Congressman Leonard Boswell voted to require the Congress and Department of Homeland Security to purchase products that are made in America with U.S. workers when the House passed the Congressional Made in America Promise Act and the Berry Amendment Extension Act.

"I am proud to support this legislation which will require two major government bodies to lead by example and buy American," Boswell said. "It is ridiculous that a visitor to the Capitol Gift Shop could be purchasing an umbrella or mug made in China instead of a souvenir made right here in the U.S. by American workers. These bills will leverage the purchasing power of the federal government to invest in American companies that produce American-made goods, hire American workers, and in turn fill and create American jobs."

Last month, Boswell also voted to close tax loopholes that encourage companies to ship American jobs overseas that result in devastating lay-offs and plant closings across the U.S.

"We must not reward corporations that outsource American jobs for cheaper labor abroad," Boswell said. "I will continue to fight for legislation that reinvests and rebuilds America's manufacturing industry to create jobs and a strong foundation for our nation's economy."

The Congressional Made in America Promise Act Requires Congress to buy goods and services made by American workers for the first time since "Buy American" rules were instituted for federal agencies under President Roosevelt in 1933, including tighter Buy American requirements for items with the seal of Congress, the House, or Senate. The Berry Amendment Extension Act bars the Department of Homeland Security from buying clothing, tents and other products that are not "grown, reprocessed, reused or produced" in America. For the last 60 years, the Berry Amendment has served our nation well requiring the Defense Department and the Coast Guard to buy a range of domestically produced or grown items with 100% U.S. content, and today's legislation would expand its requirements to DHS.

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