On Thursday, Pennsylvania state Rep. Frank Burns (D-Cambria) introduced legislation that would require Pennsylvania publicly funded projects to “Buy American.”
The set of three bills would expand current legislation from requiring public works projects use American-made materials to private developments receiving public funding.
“If public tax dollars are on the line – whether through grants, low-interest loans, tax credits or other subsidies – the companies who receive them should support steel mills and other manufacturers in Pennsylvania and across the United States,” Burns said in a memo to his colleagues. “These businesses offer good-paying jobs to working families while providing high-quality products.”
The first bill in the package would amend the Underground Utility Line Protection Act to require American-made steel to be used in all of the construction and repair of underground pipelines. The second bill would require any construction or repair projects done by a private entity that receives public funding to use American-made steel. And the third bill would provide a 2-percent bid discount on bids for public projects when American-made materials are used in the price quote.
“When American workers get the first shot at supplying the steel needed for a bridge project or constructing a new building, they’re always up to the challenge,” he wrote. “Since 2008, Pennsylvania has pumped billions of dollars in public money into companies that built facilities, expanded operations, shot movies and conducted research here. This public investment is crucial to encourage employers to locate here and tap into Pennsylvania’s talent and resources.”