IFPTE Applauds Announcement of Final Rule to Expand Buy American Act Requirements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                     

WASHINGTON, DC – The executive officers of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) issued the following statements in response to a final rule issued on Monday that increases domestic content preferences in federal government procurement. The final rule is the result of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Executive Order 14005, “Ensuring the Future Is Made in All of America by All of America's Workers,” which also established the Made in America Office within the White House Office of Management and Budget.

IFPTE President Matthew Biggs:

"The Biden-Harris Administration has once again proven its commitment to working Americans with the announcement of new provisions that will significantly strengthen our government's "Buy American" requirements.  For too long, loopholes in our laws have enabled companies and agencies to thwart the intent and the letter of federal regulations designed to promote investment in U.S. manufacturing, services, technologies, and economic prosperity.  With this thoughtfully crafted rule, President Biden will quickly reverse decades of watering down those rules and raise the minimum domestic content from 55% to 75%."

 

IFPTE Secretary-Treasurer Gay Henson:

"Labor and socially conscious business stand together in applauding President Biden's new "Buy American" announcement, as do members of Congress from across the political spectrum.  We all understand that this provision will not only boost the Biden boom that our economy is experiencing; it will increase our national security by putting money directly into strengthening critical domestic supply chains, innovation, and manufacturing.  As a Health Physicist in our nation's nuclear power industry, I also consider this an education initiative, as it creates more job opportunities for young girls and boys who want to work in the STEM sector." 

 

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Download a PDF of this press statement here.

Read the final rule, “Federal Acquisition Regulation: Amendments to the FAR Buy American Act Requirements” here.