Protect American Workers with Buy America Procurement

President Trump celebrated his first day in office by signing Executive Orders that will fight Chinese Communist Party (CCP) interference in the United States and protect American jobs. To help support the president’s effort, the Protecting America Initiative launched a multi-state ad campaign this week that encourages states to pass laws to safeguard our farmers and our food supply.  

Another way state legislators can combat Chinese government encroachment is by ensuring that state procurement funds prioritize products made in America. Whether the projects are big or small, targeting state government dollars toward American suppliers is a tool that leverages money already being spent to boost U.S. businesses, workers, and supply chains.  

Many states have taken – or are considering – steps to prioritize American products in bidding and procurement. Here are just a few examples.  

• Texas enacted laws requiring preferences for American-made iron and steel in state transportation projects. Laws like this serve as a companion to President Trump’s America First Trade Policy buy bolstering U.S. production of raw materials. 

• Last year, Florida signed into law a bill (SB 674) that similarly seeks to ensure U.S. iron and steel are used in state construction projects.  

• Louisiana statutes give officials the right to reject bids for state-funded projects if materials are provided by communist countries. These rules should be duplicated across the country and could even be strengthened by banning bids using such materials altogether unless under mitigating circumstances.  

• Missouri’s legislators recently reintroduced HB544 and SB14. These bills provide protections for agriculture manufacturers, which are critical to ensuring that our food supply isn't threatened by China cornering the market on pesticide production. 

These are just a few examples of laws that have been in place or are moving forward that will put states in lockstep with President Trump’s agenda. Unfortunately, there are also examples of state funds that have directly funneled taxpayer dollars to companies affiliated with the CCP. As states have rapidly expanded programs to provide economic incentives to companies, some of those benefits have gone the CCP. The Chinese government is now actively working to use those incentives to gain a foothold in the U.S.  

In their haste to deploy economic development resources, Democratic governors in places like Michigan actually provided taxpayer subsidies directly to companies connected to the CCP. As states consider the allocation of finite resources, companies affiliated with the governments of foreign adversaries should not have an advantage over American contractors or manufacturers. 

In the days and weeks ahead, the Protecting America Initiative will provide an accounting of bills around the country that will block the procurement of CCP products with state funding. As we have demonstrated with the campaign to protect American agriculture, we stand ready to articulate and support polices that will protect American sovereignty and the American worker in keeping with President Trump’s proactive agenda.