FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
MEDIA CONTACT
Jamie Radice (202) 226-8529
Shea-Porter Introduces Bill to Amend Buy American Act
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter introduced a bill that would proactively ensure that federal and independent agencies comply with the Buy American Act. The Buy American Act, which was signed into law by President Roosevelt in 1933, requires the US government to give preference to US made products when making purchases. Shea-Porter's amendment would require all federal and independent agencies to conduct yearly audits to ensure that they are in compliance with the original legislation.
"Over the past decade, millions of American manufacturing jobs have been shipped overseas, and our government has a responsibility to support US companies by purchasing Made in America products," said Congresswoman Shea-Porter. "My bill will help ensure that both federal and independent agencies comply with the Buy American Act."
A copy of Shea-Porter's bill is attached.
H. R. __
111TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
To amend the Buy American Act to require each department or independent
establishment to conduct an annual audit of its contracts for compliance
with such Act, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Ms. SHEA-PORTER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on ___________
A BILL
To amend the Buy American Act to require each department or independent establishment to conduct an annual audit of its contracts for compliance with such Act, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ''Buy America Accountability Act of 2010''.
SEC. 2. AUDIT OF CONTRACTS REQUIRED.
Section 2 of the Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. 10a) is amended by adding at the end the following new sub-section:
''(c) AUDIT OF CONTRACTS REQUIRED.-''
(1) IN GENERAL. -Not later than 90 daysafter the end of a fiscal year, the head of each department or independent establishment shall submit to Congress a report that contains an evaluation performed by such department or independent establishment of contractor compliance with the provisions of this Act for at least 10 percent of the contracts awarded by the department or independent establishment during that fiscal year for the procurement of articles, materials, or supplies.
''(2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY. -The head of each Federal agency submitting a report under paragraph (1) shall make the report publicly available to the maximum extent practicable.
''(3) EXCEPTION FOR THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY. -The report required under this subsection shall not cover acquisitions made by an agency, or component thereof, that is an element of the intelligence community as specified in, or designated under, section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401a(4)).''.