U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan proposes a plan to close loopholes that allow federal agencies to buy products outside of America.
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) campaigned in three Michigan cities to mandate federal agencies buy American more often.
On Tuesday afternoon, WKAR News attended Sen. Stabenow's news conference at Lansing Community College's West Campus.
Sen. Stabenow said she got the idea of her "Make It In America Act" while talking to local companies that lost bids for defense contractors to foreign based companies.
"We have 'Buy American' laws and yet we have companies that come in, set up a building, undercut the bid and then make the product overseas," said Sen. Stabenow. "That is exactly the opposite of what should be happening with 'Buy American'."
Sen. Stabenow says her staff found that the U.S. government contracted $70 billion worth of contacting dollars to foreign companies.
She wants it harder for federal agencies to use waivers to get around 'Buy American' rules. Her bill would also give a tax credit to companies that move jobs back to the U.S.
Sen. Stabenow spoke to reporters in Lansing. She also visited Detroit and Grand Rapids.