On the recordMay 17, 2012
In conclusion on this motion to instruct, let me just say that the motion is in support of the Senate Buy American provisions. The Senate-passed Buy American provisions are very similar if not exactly as the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee adopted on a voice vote, which was offered by the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Cravaack) during committee consideration of what was then called H.R. 7. So the majority has accepted this language in committee deliberation, and yet they appear to be opposing it as it comes to the floor today in the form of a motion to instruct the conferees. I would say also that that Buy American provision that is in the Senate-passed bill that this motion seeks to accept does allow for the Secretary of Transportation to provide for other than U.S. made when that product that is needed cannot be found in the United States of America or when it is truly cost prohibitive to make that product in the United States of America. So there is sufficient waiver authority provided in the Senate Buy American provisions to allow the Secretary of Transportation to do what is in America's best interest. But most importantly, by adopting my motion to instruct--and in conference hopefully adopting the Senate Buy American provision--we're ending the most egregious loophole that is used to export American jobs, and that is the segmentation of contracts that allows companies to circumvent current Buy American provisions.…
