Make it in America

Congressman John Garamendi introduced a package of four bills to bring back good manufacturing jobs in America. The package closes corporate tax loopholes that reward the off-shoring of jobs, ends taxpayer subsidies for foreign-produced clean energy technology, buses, railcars, and ferries, and offers tax incentives to encourage businesses to expand so they can hire new workers.

"I want to walk into Target and see "Made in America" throughout the store. We can make it in America," Congressman Garamendi said. "Middle-class wages in America have stagnated for three decades, and our country’s future success depends on bringing back good manufacturing jobs."

"We produce steel and concrete in Antioch and Pittsburg, solar panels in Livermore, and buses in Hayward," Garamendi added. "We must make sure the U.S. tax code and other federal polices encourage job creation in America. This work can be done by hardworking Americans in Northern California and throughout the country. Let’s make it here."

Congressman Garamendi introduced the following four bills:

• Buses, Rail Cars, Ferryboats: Make it in America Act of 2010 (H.R. 5791)– This bill would create American jobs by eliminating three waivers to the Buy America requirement and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent on American-made buses, rail cars, and ferryboats. Transit agencies would have to look to American manufacturers for their transportation equipment needs unless it increases costs by 25 percent or more, thereby putting welders, engineers, mechanics, electricians, technicians, and other Americans back to work.
   
• Manufacture Renewable Energy Systems: Make it in America Act of 2010 (H.R. 5792)– This bill would create American jobs by ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent on American-made renewable energy systems, including solar, wind, geothermal, and biofuels. Phased over a four year transitional period, the bill requires the federal government and any state government buying renewable technologies with federal funds to purchase renewable sources of energy grown, produced, or manufactured with 100% domestic content. It also requires any company taking advantage of the Investment Tax Credit and the Production Tax Credit to buy 100% domestic content within four years after the bill becomes law.
   
• Close Foreign Tax Loopholes: Make it in America Act of 2010 (H.R 5793)– This bill would have created American jobs by closing nine corporate tax loopholes that encourage the abuse of the U.S. foreign tax credit system. These provisions were developed jointly by the Treasury Department, the Committee on Ways and Means, and the Senate Finance Committee to end abuses of the U.S. foreign tax credit system and other abuses. After Congressional Republic obstructionism blocked the closure of these loopholes in previous legislation, Garamendi introduced the loophole closure as a stand-alone bill. On August 9th, Democrats in Congress successfully closed most of the loopholes via the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, a bill that keeps 161,000 teachers in the classroom (16,500 in California) and provides significant relief for Medicaid/MediCal services.
   
• Build American Manufacturing: Make it in America Act of 2010 (H.R. 6126) – This bill would create American jobs by encouraging businesses to purchase new equipment this year, so they can expand and hire new workers. Also because it encourages businesses to invest, this bill injects demand into the economy, spurring other businesses to hire new workers. Specifically, the bill permits a 100% tax write-off for the expense of capital property placed in service on or after September 8, 2010 and before 2012.
   

China is now the world’s third largest wind power producer. The world’s fifteen largest photovoltaic power stations are in the European Union. About 15 million Americans are presently unemployed.

Middle-class wages in America have stagnated for three decades, and our country’s future success in a global economy depends on reinvigorating our manufacturing sectors. Our competitors have invested significant resources in the clean technologies of the future, and it’s important that we do the same.

Op-Eds by Congressman John Garamendi:

• The Hill: Let's Stay On the Road: President Obama's Infrastructure Plan, September 13, 2010
• Daily Kos: On (Not) Making It In America, July 30, 2010
   

Press Releases on Make It In America:

• Congressman Garamendi Introduces Legislation Mirroring President Obama’s Proposal to Allow American Businesses to Write-Off Jobs-Creating Capital Improvement Costs, September 15, 2010
• Congressman Garamendi Attends Meyer Corporation Warehouse and Distribution Center Groundbreaking, August 19, 2010
• Congressman Garamendi Says Make Public Transit in America for our Economy, Environment & Security at 13th Annual Transportation Summit, August 11, 2010
• An Energy Innovation Hub at California Science Institutions will Put State on Path towards its Green Energy Future, Garamendi Says, July 22, 2010
• Congressman Garamendi and House Democrats Extend a Lifeline to Americans Out of Work While Also Spurring Economic Activity, July 22, 2010
• With 3 New Bills, Garamendi Says "Make it in America", July 21, 2010