Dozens of other states have passed similar domestic preference rules. Will the commonwealth follow suit?
Will Massachusetts finally step up to protect its workers? Supporters of common-sense Buy America legislation sure hope so.
In a recent letter sent to the Massachusetts Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, more than 50 Massachusetts businesses, labor unions and nonprofit organizations urged the state legislature to support S-2167 and H-3411. These bills, together forming an “Act to promote American Manufacturing,” would require preference for domestic businesses and workers on state-funded taxpayer-funded projects — meaning, the materials the construction materials for things like public school facilities, transportation infrastructure and administrative buildings would be American-made.
Why is this legislation common-sense? Because American taxpayer dollars should be invested back into American companies and workers, no excuses. Similar laws have already been passed in over 20 states, including Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio and Texas. They’ve been met with largely bipartisan support, too, proving how universal Buy America ideals have become across the U.S.
Currently, Massachusetts is not required to put American manufacturers and workers first when hiring for taxpayer-funded projects. This has led to an influx in foreign steel used for public construction projects, which is detrimental to smaller, locally owned businesses in and around New England. In the region alone, dozens of downstream companies have closed, and hundreds of workers have lost their jobs in recent decades.
At a lobbying event on Wednesday hosted at the Massachusetts state capital, the Steel Fabricators of New England (SFNE) presented this video, highlighting the many New England businesses shuttered by foreign steel imports. SFNE, along with the American Institute of Steel Construction and the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), have been major supporters of other Buy America efforts along the northeastern coast. For example, New Hampshire’s Buy America bill, signed into law by former governor Chris Sununu in 2022, was also backed by SFNE, AISC and AAM.
“Without these sensible changes enacted into law, Massachusetts will continue a path of sending Bay Stater’s hard-earned tax dollars to foreign firms when American workers stand to do the work,” reads the coalition letter:
Our manufacturers and workers are anxiously watching, hoping that you will support these commonsense and necessary fixes to existing state law. We urge your support for S-2167 and H-3411, an Act to promote American Manufacturing, tell these manufacturers and workers you support their jobs, their businesses, and their communities.
We’re watching this effort as it works through the legislature in Massachusetts. Stay tuned for updates.