The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
H-232, U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable John Boehner
Republican Leader
U.S. House of Representatives
H-204, U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Steny Hoyer
Majority Leader
H-107, U.S. Capitol
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leaders Hoyer and Boehner:

We are writing to express our strong opposition to the expansion of “Buy American” provisions included in H.R. 5320, the Assistance, Quality, and Affordability Act of 2010, that is scheduled for the suspension calendar today. We strongly urge you to amend this legislation given that its new, restrictive “Buy American” provisions will undermine, rather than foster, U.S. job growth.

While the “Buy American” sentiment may sound appealing, the significant expansion of these provisions in H.R. 5320 will undermine the ability of our states and localities to pursue much-needed drinking water projects, while also harming America’s ability to access foreign markets. Unlike the Federal government, municipalities that engage in most of the drinking water projects under the funds allocated by H.R. 5320 are not covered by international agreements. So these municipalities have no ability to even procure from our closest allies and trading partners, even those from whom the Federal government and a number of most of our states can purchase.

Given that this sector depends on numerous specialized pieces of equipment, a significant portion of which is produced through international production and supply chains, the addition of these highly restrictive new limits on municipalities will drive up costs, reduce competition and choice and bring our citizens less, rather than more, safe drinking water. This is the experience that many of our municipalities have already had under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the inclusion of Buy American provisions in H.R. 5320 will only compound the problem.

We share your strong interest in promoting strong job growth in the United States and continued economic growth and recovery. We strongly urge you, therefore, to reject the inclusion of new restrictive “Buy American” provisions that will undermine the ability to stimulate the U.S. job growth that is so strongly sought and needed.

Respectfully,

American Business Conference
American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC of America)
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)
Business Roundtable
The Honorable Steny Hoyer
Majority Leader
H-107, U.S. Capitol
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Coalition of Service Industries (CSI)
Emergency Committee for American Trade (ECAT)
National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ)
National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC)
Organization for International Investment (OFII)
United States Council for International Business (USCIB)
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association (WWEMA