WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01), Chair of the Tactical Air and Land Forces (TAL) Subcommittee in the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), ensured America would bring manufacturing and high-quality jobs back home by authoring provisions in H.R. 6395 the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) to enhance ‘Buy American’ standards for major defense acquisition programs.
“As we’ve seen through the current pandemic and the early severe lack of personal protective equipment, when we don’t have the manufacturing capacity here in the US, our National Security and the lives of Americans are at risk. We must do better,” said Congressman Norcross. “Buy American, which has the strong support of our hard-working defense contract workforce, shows that we are truly serious about building things in the US, creating good paying jobs and supporting the American worker.”
“Buy American policies serve the public good by targeting our tax dollars for the purchase of American made products and services, thereby employing U.S. workers and putting our federal tax receipts to work here at home,” said Robert Martinez, Jr., International President of the International Assoc. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. “Congressman Norcross’ amendment to improve Buy American requirements in defense procurement would help ensure that our tax dollars are used to support the US workforce and the firms who employ them.”
The 1933 Buy American Act requires the U.S. Government to purchase items that are made in America, however, under interpretation of that law an item only needs to be made of 50% American parts to be considered American Made. The provision Congressman Norcross championed requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to increase the percentage of American parts that makes a Major Acquisition Program considered “American” to 75% by October 1, 2021, and phases in 5% per year until we reach 100% by October 1, 2026. In addition, it requires DOD to create a repository of information related to domestic content to better inform contracting decisions in the future.
On Tuesday, the NDAA passed the House of Representatives with a bipartisan vote of 295, to 125.
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