WASHINGTON — The Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) today welcomed new guidance from the Biden administration on how federal agencies should implement Executive Order (EO) 14005, Ensuring the Future is Made in All of America by All of America’s Workers. The EO seeks to maximize the use of goods, products, and materials produced in, and services offered in the United States. It also requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to establish the Made in America Office (MIAO), which will focus on increasing opportunities for domestic sourcing and reducing the need for waivers from federal Buy American laws.
Importantly, the new guidance also requires federal agencies to designate a Senior Accountable Official (SAO) for domestic sourcing. The SAO will coordinate with Celeste Drake, the nation’s first Made in America Director, to implement a holistic approach to advance the policy set forth in the EO, including by working to increase opportunities for U.S. manufacturing and to reduce waivers.
“CPA and our members are committed to making things right here in America,” CPA Chair Zach Mottl said. “President Biden’s Made in America Executive Order was a good first step towards supporting American businesses and workers, and today’s guidance is very promising. For too long, Washington sat idly by as government contracts were given to foreign companies that exploited glaring Buy American loopholes. As the Biden administration continues to implement this Executive Order, we look forward to supporting efforts to ensure taxpayer dollars support American manufacturing and American workers.”
In February, CPA sent a letter to President Biden asking that he take into consideration three suggestions to ensure the strongest Buy American provisions possible. CPA’s Annual Conference in March focused specifically on Buy American laws and current loopholes in these rules. In May, CPA Chief Economist Jeff Ferry wrote why Biden’s Buy American ambitions make good economic sense.
“Celeste Drake has been a longtime champion for American workers and she was an excellent choice to be our nation’s first ever Made in America Director,” said Michael Stumo, CEO of CPA. “Today’s new guidance from the Biden administration on the Made in America Executive Order is a welcome and encouraging development. CPA has long advocated for increasing domestic sourcing and purchasing by the federal government. Unfortunately, these efforts are often hampered by waivers under current Buy American rules. Thankfully, the Biden administration has made clear it wants to address this as it seeks to ensure that the U.S. government is prioritizing goods made in America and America’s workers.”
Earlier this year, CPA called on the Biden administration to further boost America’s domestic manufacturers and support American workers by quitting the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Government Procurement Act (GPA). This move would “help America economically recover from COVID by withdrawing from the GPA—and start allocating federal contracts to America’s hardworking manufacturers rather than overseas companies.” The GPA requires member countries to open all of their government contracts to bidding from foreign companies. As such, these outdated international trade rules prevent the Biden administration from giving preference to U.S. companies and workers.
