Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty Introduces American Jobs Matter Act to Boost American Manufacturing Jobs and Spend Taxpayer Money Smarter

Press Release

Today, U.S. Representative Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) introduced the American Jobs Matter Act, H.R. 479, which will leverage taxpayer money spent on federal contracts to support American manufacturers and boost job creation. Esty's bill is the House counterpart to Senator Chris Murphy's (D-Conn) bill in the Senate, S. 26. Murphy championed the American Jobs Matter Act as a member of U.S. House of Representatives.

The bill will require the U.S. Department of Defense to take into account the creation and retention of American jobs when issuing a contract. From 2007 to 2013, the U.S. Department of Defense spent over $700 billion dollars on manufactured goods, with over $150 billion spent on goods produced overseas. During the same period, the United States lost an estimated 1.7 million manufacturing jobs.

"I'm proud to join Senator Murphy in introducing the American Jobs Matter Act. It makes no sense to spend our taxpayer money funding jobs overseas when we could support jobs right here at home. Our failure to take job creation into account has led to misguided decisions by the U.S. Department of Defense, including their decision to buy Mi-17 helicopters for Afghanistan from Rosoboronexport, a Russian arms dealer. Connecticut is home to over 5,000 manufacturers, including hundreds of small suppliers--many family-owned--that employ thousands of workers across our state. Spending our tax dollars on superior military equipment made right here in Connecticut will support manufacturing jobs at home and protect our national security. I look forward to working with Senator Murphy, a tireless champion for American manufacturing, to pass this commonsense bill into law," said Congresswoman Esty.

"I introduced the American Jobs Matter Act after being inspired by the Fifth District's hardworking manufacturers who have played a crucial role in creating new jobs, supporting our communities, and accelerating the state's economic recovery, and I'm thrilled that the bill is staying in the "Fighting Fifth'. Congresswoman Esty is a strong champion for manufacturers and she'll help get this important bill one step closer to the president's desk. Too many manufacturing jobs in Connecticut have been lost to foreign firms because the Department of Defense doesn't give preference to American manufacturers when awarding defense contracts. That needs to change. The American Jobs Matter Act will give Connecticut's defense manufacturers a leg up against foreign competition, and I look forward to building support for it with my dear friend and colleague, Elizabeth Esty," said Senator Murphy.

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