Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, 412-562-2444, jkamm@usw.org
United Steelworkers (USW) International President Tom Conway issued the following statement today in response to the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed rulemaking that will include an increase in the Buy American threshold for general government procurement from 55 percent to 60 percent immediately and ultimately to 75 percent:
“Workers across every facet of our economy, including hundreds of thousands of USW members, are ready and willing to help our nation meet its needs.
“It’s vitally important that as the federal government spends taxpayer dollars, those funds go toward giving these workers the opportunity to continue manufacturing high-quality products and supporting good, community-sustaining jobs now and into the future.
“Today’s announcement that the OMB will raise the general government procurement threshold demonstrates a serious commitment to revitalizing our nation’s manufacturing base, rebuilding our supply chains and ensuring a steady path forward for our domestic industries.
“The USW applauds this bold, forward-looking action and looks forward to continuing our work with the OMB’s Made in America office and the whole Biden administration as together we look to secure our nation’s manufacturing capacity and promote widespread economic security.”
The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.