Contact: Sen. Hansen
608-266-5670

(Madison)—The Made in America Act is receiving a public hearing today in the Assembly Government Accountability and Oversight Committee. The legislation, introduced by Representative Peter Barca and Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) requires that materials used in state construction projects be made in the United States.

“This bill is about putting people in Wisconsin and America back to work by making sure that the materials we use to build our roads, bridges and schools are made here in the United States rather than outsourcing that work to a foreign country,” said Hansen.

“But it’s also about making sure the materials used in our construction and infrastructure projects are safe and of the highest quality. By requiring these materials to be made in America it will be easier for the state to hold any supplier or provider accountable for any problems than to be forced to pursue a private corporation in a foreign country.”

There has been a growing trend among some states toward outsourcing the manufacturing of materials used in infrastructure projects to other countries. Outsourcing has been a leading cause of the decline in U.S. manufacturing and the loss of millions of jobs to workers in foreign nations. The nation lost 2.7 million jobs to china alone in the past ten years, most of them in manufacturing. Requiring the use of American made materials in state construction projects can help restore much-needed jobs in our manufacturing sector.

“State and local governments should be setting the example. By making sure that the materials we use in rebuilding our infrastructure are made in America we can take a good step toward strengthening our manufacturing base, improving public safety, growing our economy and putting people back to work.”

The Made in America Act is part of a larger Democratic Job Creation Package that is focused on providing increased job training, targeted tax incentives to grow small business and placing an emphasis on Wisconsin and American job creation.

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