Peters Statement on President Biden’s Buy American Executive Order

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today released the following statement on President Biden’s Buy American executive order to strengthen American manufacturing:

“In Michigan, we make things – it has always been in our DNA, and I firmly believe that you cannot have a strong economy or nation without a robust manufacturing sector. President Biden understands that and has always stood with the American worker. His plan focuses on the immediate support needed to grow and protect American businesses in a time when our country is facing an economic crisis unlike any other. Michigan and American workers can outcompete and outwork anyone – and prioritizing them will better ensure that we can get through this pandemic together and stronger than before.

“I have pushed for more Buy American policies, and I’m also glad to see President Biden directing federal agencies to utilize the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, which I have worked to strengthen in order to connect agencies to small and medium-sized manufacturers. As incoming Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I’m looking forward to working with the Biden Administration to ensure we strengthen our supply chain and invest American taxpayer dollars in American businesses.”

This announcement builds on Peters’ efforts to support domestic manufacturers. Peters previously introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure that American taxpayer dollars are used to buy American-made iron, steel and manufactured products for federally funded infrastructure projects. In November, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee advanced Peters’ bipartisan Helping Manufacturers Respond to COVID-19 Act, which would grant Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEP) throughout the country federal funding to help carry out their mission of providing resources to help manufacturers expand growth, maintain staff and adapt to market changes. This legislation was enacted into law, as part of a larger bill, in December 2020.

Last July, Peters worked to include an amendment providing grants to Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEP) to help small manufacturers meet cybersecurity requirements as part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021 which he helped to pass in December. Peters also authored bipartisan legislation that was signed into law in 2020 to adjust federal cost-share ratios and implement new accountability and oversight provisions within the MEP program. Peters also authored the original provisions of the CARES Act, signed into law in March, which authorized a waiver of the cost-share requirements.

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