WASHINGTON — Congressman John Carney (D-DE) today joined House Democratic colleagues at a press conference in the Capitol to unveil the latest additions to the Make It In America legislative priorities for the 113th Congress. Congressman Carney and his colleagues have championed the Make It In America agenda for the past several years. The initiative is a comprehensive jobs plan aimed at revitalizing the manufacturing sector and helping create high-skill, high-wage jobs in the United States.
The package of bills announced Wednesday included Congressman Carney’s bill, H.R. 2664, the Made In America Act, bipartisan legislation that highlights American-made products and incentivizes manufacturers to increase domestic production. The legislation creates the America Star Program, a voluntary, standardized labeling program that would allow consumers to easily identify the extent to which products are American-made.
“My number one priority is putting Delawareans back to work,” said Congressman Carney. “Key to that effort is breathing new life into the manufacturing sector. That means finding ways to encourage companies to make things here in America again.”
Last week, the Congressman completed a week-long “Make It In Delaware” tour in which he released his own plan for boosting manufacturing in Delaware and across the country. See details of the plan here.
Congressman Carney is also the lead sponsor of the Research and Development Tax Credit Extension Act of 2013, a cornerstone of the Make It In America agenda. This bill would increase and simplify the research and development tax credit from 14 percent to 17 percent -- and make it permanent. The R&D tax credit is critical to supporting business innovation and personnel recruitment and retention.
Additionally, Congressman Carney was an original cosponsor of the Incentivizing Offshore Wind Power Act to provide critical financial incentives for investment in offshore wind energy. A number of proposed offshore wind projects are moving through the development process -- in Delaware and elsewhere along the Atlantic Seaboard. In addition to utilizing an abundant source of clean, renewable energy, an offshore wind project can create up to 1,500 jobs in construction, operation, and maintenance alone.
Along with California Democratic Congressman Mike Honda, Congressman Carney helped introduce the Scaling Up Manufacturing Act, which would let businesses claim a 25 percent tax credit on the costs of construction or lease of their first domestically located manufacturing facility. This would help entrepreneurs translate their research and development into manufacturing and jobs.
“Making things in America is good for consumers, workers, and the economy,” Congressman Carney said. “I’m proud to support legislation that will make it easier for companies to create jobs domestically and hire workers right here at home.”
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