WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) will today propose an amendment to S.1243, the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Act, that will require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to assess the impact on American jobs before issuing a waiver to the Buy America provision in federal procurement laws.

Murphy will call up the amendment on the floor of the Senate just after 12:30pm.  

“Making critical long-term investments in our infrastructure should create jobs in America, not overseas,” said Murphy. “This is simple: our roads and bridges need work, and so do workers and companies across Connecticut and the country. Waivers and loopholes in our Buy America laws cost jobs, and at the very least, DOT should precisely account for how many American jobs their waiver decisions will cost.”

Currently, the bill states that the Secretary of Transportation may issue a waiver to the Buy America provisions in this bill and in current law.  Before issuing a waiver, the Secretary must solicit public comment and report to Congress on the use of Buy America waivers.

Murphy’s amendment would require that, prior to issuing a waiver, in addition to the public comment period, the Department must also assess the waiver’s impact on American jobs. 

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