Transportation Dept. Launches Buy American Website
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When the Apollo Alliance released its Clean Transportation Manufacturing Action Plan (TMAP) in October (click here for detailed coverage) one of its key job-creating recommendations was ensuring that American manufacturers and U.S. workers supply the rail cars, tracks and other mass transit equipment to modernize the nation’s mass transportation system.
But since 2005, U.S. companies and governments have spent more than $10 billion to purchase mass transit equipment overseas, even though the United States is home to five public transit bus manufacturers, a dozen railcar builders and a wide range of other transportation equipment makers.
Now the U.S. Department of Transportation, following a TMAP recommendation, has launched a new website that will post all Buy American waiver requests in one central location so that any American company can see easily if they can fill a particular need.
Big Pix Solution Needed to Rebuild Manufacturing
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As important as a Buy America policy is, it is not enough to rebuild the nation’s manufacturing base. We must have a comprehensive industrial policy that supports manufacturing, promotes research and development, emphasizes worker training and rebuilds our infrastructure. Otherwise, the United States will no longer be the world’s top economy, participants at the America’s Future Now conference were warned today.
During a forum on “Making It in America: A Progressive Global Strategy,” Kate Gordon of the Center for American Progress said our competitors, like China and Germany, have strategies in place that are geared to increasing their economic development while the United States does not. Clyde Prestowitz, author of “Betrayal of the American Prosperity,” said when it comes to trade, we are playing an entirely different game than our competitors. While we admonish them to consume more and export less, they are figuring out ways to increase exports and consume less.
‘Buy America’ Puts People to Work
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A new report presents clear evidence that including Buy America provisions in last year’s stimulus package has created jobs and makes the case that the rules should be strengthened in jobs legislation being considered on Capitol Hill.
The 17-page report, “Buy America Works,” by the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), highlights success stories showing how Buy America provisions have benefited U.S. companies. Like United Streetcar in Oregon, that is manufacturing the first U.S.-made streetcars in 60 years and supporting a supply chain across the nation. Or Arcelor Mittal in Pennsylvania, that is building rail tracks for southeastern Pennsylvania.
Earlier this week, AAM field staff converged on Capitol Hill to urge their lawmakers to maintain and enhance Buy America requirements in jobs legislation now before the Senate, where some Republicans want to weaken the rules.
Speaking of Jobs…
Here are a few good nuggets about jobs to chew on this cold winter day.
• The reactionary noise machine is trying to bad-mouth the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to make it look like it’s not creating jobs. Wrong. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis this week announced the release of nearly $100 million in renewable energy training grants that will create thousands of jobs and help move our nation to energy self-sufficiency. The Electrical Workers (IBEW) is among the unions receiving the green jobs training grants. In Austin, Texas, alone, the $4.8 million granted to the union’s Joint Apprenticeship and Training Council will enable it to train more than 1,000 workers—both experienced journeymen and workers new to the trade—by next year.
Foreign Companies Cop 84 Percent of Stimulus Green Economy Funds
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Instead of creating thousands of new jobs for out-of-work Americans, the push for alternative energy is lining the pockets of foreign companies. A new study shows that of the $1.05 billion of stimulus funds spent on clean energy grants since Sept. 1, an astronomical 84 percent—or $849 million—has gone to foreign wind companies, with one firm collecting more than $500 million alone.
Russ Choma writes that the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University found the Spanish utility company Iberdrola S.A. has collected $545 million in grants through its U.S. subsidiary. And the money doesn’t even have to go to create jobs. The group reports there are few restrictions on how the grants can be used. In fact, more than $800 million has been given to firms for wind farms that were already producing electricity before they received the grants.
This revelation comes as the public is becoming aware of and outraged by China seeking $450 million in economic recovery funds to build a planned $1.5 billion wind farm in Texas. The farm will create 30 permanent jobs in the United States and 2,000 jobs in China.
A Little ‘Buy American’ Goes a Long Way
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Gee what a concept: When U.S. taxpayer money is spent on economic stimulus programs that channel the funds into U.S. jobs, America’s communities, workers and, yes, the nation benefit.
Case in point: a stimulus-funded bridge project in Hubbard County, Minn., whose construction is based on the “Buy America” provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. From the Alliance for American Manufacturing:
According to a Hubbard County engineer who is overseeing the project, domestically sourced inputs, including cement, plywood, and 55,000 pounds of reinforced steel, are being used because of the Buy America requirement.
Instead of using foreign inputs, which are less stimulative for job creation, domestic steel is being used to create 30-foot I-beams to support the bridge deck. Steel rebar is also used in the project. The local engineer also reports that the Buy America requirements are not burdensome and are not an impediment to the project. The project came in under budget with $600,000 allotted, but only $430,000 needed to complete the project. The bridge construction is moving quickly and is expected to be completed shortly.
Chocolate, Whiskey and More at the Union Store
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Last week, the UAW published a list of 2010 union-made cars, trucks, vans and other vehicles. It’s also Union Label Week, which we hold annually to highlight how union-made goods are high in quality and help support middle-class communities. These two events reminded me: Making a case for Buy American means we in the union movement need to do our job and show U.S. consumers how and where to buy American, and buy union.
Or at least we can try. I’ve seen an awful lot of brand-new BMWs, Mercedes and Lexus brands of all types driving around here in Washington, D.C., recently. Something tells me my money helped purchase those vehicles—no doubt some of the drivers are beneficiaries of taxpayer-bailed out financial institutions.
Still, not everyone is laughing all the way to making high-end purchases of foreign-made goods with U.S. taxpayer dollars. And for those who still have a conscious that can be appealed to, this list is for you.
Findlay, Ohio, Chamber of Commerce Kills Parade Because Unions Backed It
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The Chamber of Commerce—that’s the U.S. Chamber of Commerce—proved once again how anti-American it is when it comes to supporting U.S. industry.
In Findlay, Ohio, unions had been organizing a parade and all-day event for this Saturday to highlight American-made products and the need for U.S. trade and economic policies that reward job growth in this country. The unions worked hard to get the business community involved and spent months meeting with the city’s Republican mayor, who supported the plans.
But in the end, GreaterFindayInc., the local Chamber arm, killed the Heart of Commerce and Community Celebration.
Says Donnie Blatt, United Steelworkers (USW) Rapid Response coordinator for District 1: “GreaterFindlayInc. did everything they could to sabotage us. They told business not to cooperate with us.”
Take the Pledge: Buy American
So, the world isn’t flat after all. Not that some of us ever bought into Thomas Friedman-speak. But many in this country did, especially those running the political show, and now we have a chance to shape a progressive future on the ashes of such failed visions.
And that progressive future needs a widespread recognition of the acceptance of the need to Buy America. A good first step is taking the American Auto Revivial Pledge.
One of the hardest connections for those of us in the union movement to make with our progressive allies has been in the area of trade and policies that encourage U.S. consumers to Buy American Made. Especially Buy America.
Why is that so?
Buy American Is About Building Jobs, Not Protectionism
The attack by corporations and their media mouthpieces on the Buy American provision in the economic recovery package illustrates just how far removed Big Business is from the needs of U.S. workers—and, ultimately, from what will benefit the nation.
Last night on the PBS “NewsHour with Jim Lehrer,” AFL-CIO international economist Thea Lee honed in on the false arguments pushed by corporate interests who mutter darkly about how Buy American provisions will lead to “trade wars.” The Buy American provision mandates that only U.S.-made goods be used in projects funded by the bill—and requires that these steps are taken in a manner consistent with U.S. international trade obligations. So screams of “protectionism” are a red-herring.
