(Video is available by clicking above or at: http://youtu.be/ixbB75o5W2M)

After visiting the Western New York business earlier this week, Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) recognized the Made in America Store and its owner, Mark Andol, on the Floor of the House of Representatives as a leader in protecting and creating American jobs. 

Below is the text of Congressman Higgins’ remarks:

I rise to share the story of Mark Andol, a member of my Western New York community.

Mark owns a welding and fabricating company in my district.  Like many American manufacturers, it lost sales to China in recent years and was forced to cut its seventy person workforce nearly in half.

Mark was frustrated and decided to do something about it.  He opened a general store that sells only products manufactured entirely in America. 

When it opened last year, the store offered fifty products.  Since then sales have doubled and it now sells over thirty-five-hundred products that are 100% American-made – right down to the packaging.

I visited Mark’s store earlier this week and was highly impressed.  And I was happy to invite him to the Make it in America working meetings hosted by the White House and our Democratic Whip Mr. Hoyer tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, Mark’s experience demonstrates why we need to strengthen our trade laws and pass the China currency reform bill.  In the meantime I would like to salute Mark Andol for his commitment to the American worker.

On Thursday, November 3, Mark Andol, owner of the Made in America Store will attend a White House “Make it in America” event at the invitation of Congressman Higgins.