The American Manufacturing Alliance joined Massachusetts manufacturers Tuesday in pushing for passage of a bill that would extend domestic content preferences to state government spending.
Massachusetts has an opportunity to ensure taxpayer dollars are reinvested in Bay State workers and businesses and to expand our manufacturing footprint.
The state Legislature is currently considering a major legislative package to boost the state’s economic development.with title Massachusetts Economic Leadership Strengthening Actthe bill has the support of Gov. Maura Healey and includes a number of initiatives, including funding to spur the growth of factories in clean energy, biomanufacturing and other advanced manufacturing industries. .
This is very good, but we think the law could be improved further.
The American Manufacturing Alliance between organizations We urge Congress and the governor to include language in the bill that prioritizes domestic content in state government spending, ensuring that American workers and manufacturers get first chances on taxpayer-funded contracts, and that taxpayers Prevent overseas production support using funds.
In fact, the Massachusetts Legislature already has a law in place: Act to Promote American Manufacturingwe and others believe that it is a perfect fit and should be included in large economic measures.
AAM’s Brian Lombardozzi testifies in Massachusetts Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies On Tuesday, he urged lawmakers to add “Buy America” language to all economic legislation.Lombardozzi testified:
Reinvesting tax dollars into local and national economies reduces the burden on social safety net programs by promoting growth, expanding the tax base, and creating more job opportunities for middle-class Americans. Masu.
As companies continue to invest in their U.S. operations, they are modernizing their factories to make them safer and more efficient, creating jobs in the process. This law ensures that just as Massachusetts regulates how American manufacturers do business, Massachusetts also does its best to encourage American production and investment. H3108/S2026 – The Manufacturing Promotion Act ensures compliance with U.S. environmental and labor standards as a standard when doing business with one of the world’s largest customers.
As Mr. Lombardozzi pointed out, both the federal government and many states gives priority to domestic content. , Oregon, and West Virginia.
Without these incentives, Massachusetts would miss an opportunity to reinvest taxpayer dollars in local manufacturers and workers, expand local manufacturing capacity, and grow the economy. Stephen Capone, current president of New England Steel Fabricators and owner of Capone Iron Corporation; stated in a statement Companies like his are forced to compete for taxpayer-funded government contracts with foreign companies that don’t adhere to the same labor and economic standards or play by the rules.
“New England manufacturers face unfair competition due to exchange rates and generous subsidies provided by the government, resulting in more than 95 percent of public structural steel construction projects being lost to foreign companies. They don’t pay taxes here, they don’t abide by local, state and federal laws and regulations,” Capone said. “All of these factors their economy and profits their Fostering growth and investment in the community their It’s not our factory, it’s our factory. ”
Capone also pointed out that many local companies are now simply declining to even bid on state contracts, which is hurting Massachusetts.
“You’re not saving money by buying foreign steel. You’re not saving money by buying cheap foreign steel,” Capone said. “Our tax-paying manufacturers and their employees would generate more tax revenue through wages and economic spending than they would from upfront savings on foreign steel. Domestic manufacturing for public works projects. The taxes we pay to merchants and their employees generate more tax revenue for their wages and economic activity than for up-front savings. There is something fundamentally wrong with this kind of careless spending and policy. .”
Now, Massachusetts lawmakers have a chance to turn things around.
“If these sensible changes are not passed into law, the state of Massachusetts will deprive the city of Baystarter of its hard-earned tax dollars to foreign companies while American workers are on their feet,” Lombardozzi told lawmakers. I think we will continue on the path of sending them.” Our manufacturers and workers are watching anxiously, hoping you will support these common sense and necessary amendments to existing state laws. H3108/S2026 – Including such domestic content language in Governor Healey’s proposed manufacturing promotion law would encourage these manufacturers and workers to protect their jobs, their businesses, and their communities. This will let them know that you support them. ”
We will continue to monitor economic development legislation as it passes through state legislatures and continue to encourage lawmakers to include the Promoting American Manufacturing Act in the final version.
