“The concept of Buy American is simple: Our tax dollars should be used to create jobs and advance production here at home. For far too long, America’s workers have suffered as many corporations wrap themselves in the American flag and simultaneously seek out loopholes to qualify for Buy American status with foreign-made products.”

AFL-CIO PRESIDENT RICHARD TRUMKA ON PRESIDENT BIDEN’S ‘BUY AMERICAN’ EXECUTIVE ORDER.

“The concept of Buy American is simple: Our tax dollars should be used to create jobs and advance production here at home,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka of President Biden’s ‘Buy American’ Executive Order.

“For far too long, America’s workers have suffered as many corporations wrap themselves in the American flag and simultaneously seek out loopholes to qualify for Buy American status with foreign-made products,” Trumka continued.

The new ‘Ensuring the Future is Made in America’ Executive Order will not only makes it more difficult for Federal Agencies to receive a waiver when purchasing, it also creates a new position in the Office of Management and Budget to oversee stepped-up purchases of domestic goods.

“The Future Will Be Made in America,” declared President Biden before signing the EO.

The White House, in an online statement about the Order says that it will create a website where American companies can see what contracts are being awarded to foreign vendors, allowing them to alert the government to the availability of a domestic alternative.

In his remarks, President Biden explained it saying, “We’re going to require that waivers be publicly posted; that is, if someone is seeking a waiver to build this particular vehicle or facility and is going to buy the following foreign parts, that waiver — the request for it — is going to be posted.  Then we’ll work with small American manufacturers and businesses to give them a shot to raise their hand and say, ‘Yeah, I can do that here in my shop, in my town.’”

The Executive Order also addressed the Biden Administration’s commitment to the Jones Act.

“The executive action I am taking also reiterates my strong support for the Jones Act and American vessels, you know, and our ports, especially those important for America’s clean energy future and the development of offshore renewable energy,” said President Biden.

The Jones Act is a federal law that regulates maritime commerce in the United States. The Jones Act requires goods shipped between U.S. ports to be transported on ships that are built, owned, and operated by United States citizens or permanent residents. ■