‘Buy America’ Rises Again

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Democratic members have introduced new legislation that reinstates “Buy America” provisions similar to those under ARRA.  The “Invest in America Jobs Act” contains language calling for major transportation and infrastructure projects that are financed with Federal funds to use iron, steel, and manufactured goods from defined domestic sources.  Although the principal thrust of the legislation is to focus on the rail, transit, and highway industries and on jobs creation, the “Buy America” provisions also apply to projects funded through the Clean Water SRF (and presumably the DWSRF) according to press materials released on Thursday.

The as yet unnumbered bill is sponsored by T&I Ranking Minority Member Nick Rahall (D-WV) along with ranking minority members from each of the Committee’s principal subcommittees:  Highways and Transit – Peter DeFazio (OR), Railroads – Corrine Brown (FL), Water Resources and Environment – Timothy Bishop (NY), and Economic Development – Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC).  Support for the proposal has been offered by the AFL-CIO and the United Steelworkers.