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What follows is a letter about favoring American companies in the purchases made under the stimulus packaged being considered by Congress.

Congressmen Don Manzullo and Dan Lipinski and 47 colleagues sent it to their leaders.

Speaker Republican Leader

House of Representatives House of Representatives

H-232, U.S. Capitol H-204, U.S. Capitol

Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Republican Leader Boehner:

As Congress continues to discuss a comprehensive strategy to revive our struggling economy, we urge you to include a strong “Buy American” provision in the economic stimulus package. If we are going to spend up to $1 trillion to stimulate our economy, we should make sure that American taxpayer dollars are used to create American jobs in America – not Chinese jobs in China.

It is clear that our nation faces enormous challenges. In December, U.S. factory activity fell to a 28-year low. The U.S. economy shed more than 2.4 million jobs in 2008, making it the worst year of job losses since World War II. The unemployment rate, already at a disturbingly high 7.2%, could reach double digits by the end of this year. If the intent of the stimulus bill is to put Americans back to work, the money must be spent here at home. American taxpayer dollars should go to American workers.

The stimulus package will likely contain significant investments in our transportation infrastructure and schools. While the labor cannot be outsourced, we should make sure that --- whenever practical --- spending on materials and equipment stays here at home too. We should rebuild our bridges with American steel and concrete. We should weatherize our schools with domestically produced windows and insulation.

The same is true for renewable energy. If the stimulus package invests in a cleaner energy future and freedom from foreign oil, let’s put American companies to work making solar panels and wind turbines. If the stimulus invests in modernizing our electrical grid, let’s use American transformers and smart meters. And if the stimulus invests in the next generation of plug-in hybrids, we should do everything possible to make sure that our American auto industry and its suppliers benefit.

In addition, President-elect Obama has proposed a massive effort to make all health records standardized and electronic within five years. This modernization could save money and improve healthcare, but if we want to create IT jobs here at home instead of in Bangalore, we must use American software and hardware.

If Congress wants to help American workers, we need to buy American. We cannot afford to spend hundreds of billions of dollars – perhaps $1 trillion – only to watch contractors and subcontractors turn around and send that money abroad. We only have one chance to get this right. We strongly urge you to include a “Buy American” provision in any stimulus legislation.

Thank you for your time and attention regarding this critical issue.

Sincerely,

Daniel Lipinski

Donald Manzullo

Christopher P. Carney

Phil Hare

Betty Sutton

Michael H. Michaud

Jerry F. Costello

Daniel Maffei

Steve Cohen

Paul D. Tonko

Mary Kaptur

Tim Holden

Michael E. Capuano

Brian Baird

Solomon Ortiz

Grace F. Napolitano

Thaddeus G. McCotter

Gene Taylor

Laura Richardson

Michael A. Arcuri

Tim Ryan

Joe Donnelly

Marion Berry

Peter A. DeFazio

Lincoln Davis

Travis Childers

Gary Peters

Emanuel Cleaver

Glenn Nye

Robert C. Scott

Charles A. Wilson

David Loebsack

Mike Doyle

Tim Murphy

Al Green

David Wu

Peter J. Visclosky

Bart Stupak

Mike Ross

Don Young

Bob Filner

Bill Foster

Michael E. McMahon

Walter B. Jones

Timothy H. Bishop

John D. Dingell

Dale E. Kildee

Sander M. Levin

Chellie Pingree

Frank A. LoBiondo

Eleanor Holmes Norton

John J. Duncan Jr.

Zachary T. Space

Labels: 16th Congressional District, America First, Dan Lipinski, Don Manzullo