WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) joined U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) on Wednesday to introduce Keep Buying American Act of 2018, which requires the federal agencies covered by President Trump’s April 2017 Buy American executive order to publicly release reports on how they are complying with our nation’s Buy American law. These reports should contain recommendations to strengthen compliance with Buy American laws to protect American workers and manufacturers. They are not currently available to the public or to Members of Congress.

During President Trump’s first week in office, Murphy sent him five specific executive actions to close loopholes in Buy American laws that hurt American manufacturers. President Trump heeded his call. 

“This is a big deal—Connecticut has lost jobs because of our broken Buy American laws. I’ve said from day one of this administration that if President Trump wants to work on fixing these laws and close loopholes that are sending American jobs overseas, I’ll eagerly work with him. His executive order last year was a positive step, but it’s not much if we can’t even see the results of the reports. The public should know if the Trump administration is complying with the Buy American law. If they’re not, Congress needs to act now and pass legislation like my BuyAmerican.gov Act to increase transparency,” said Murphy. 

“Our Michigan workers and manufacturers can out-build, out-work, and out-think anyone but they need a level playing field to succeed,” said Stabenow. “The public has a right to see these reports which will show if our Buy American laws are working, and if they’re not, what actions can be taken to strengthen them.” 

Murphy has persistently called for the U.S. government to strengthen Buy American requirements and improve compliance with existing laws. In order to protect and grow manufacturing jobs in Connecticut, Murphy has introduced legislation to strengthen existing Buy American standards and prioritize the purchase of American-made goods, the BuyAmerican.gov Act, American Jobs Matter Act and the 21st Century Buy American Act. 

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