Effects of Buy America on Transportation Infrastructure and U.S. Manufacturing Michaela D. Platzer Specialist in Industrial Organization and Business William J. Mallett Specialist in Transportation Policy Updated July 2, 2019 Congressional Research Service 7-.... www.crs.gov R44266 SUMMARY R44266 Effects of Buy America on July 2, 2019 Transportation Infrastructure and Michaela D. Platzer U.S. Manufacturing Specialist in Industrial Organization and Business In 1978, Congress began placing domestic content restrictions on federally funded transportation
[email protected] projects that are carried out by nonfederal government agencies such as state and local William J. Mallett governments. These restrictions, which have changed over the years, are commonly referred to as Specialist in the Buy America Act, or more simply, Buy America. Although there has been ongoing Transportation Policy congressional interest in domestic preference policy over the years, statements and actions by the
[email protected] Trump Administration about reinvigorating domestic manufacturing and investing in infrastructure have stimulated renewed interest in Buy America. For a copy of the full report, please call 7-.... or visit Buy America refers to several similar statutes and regulations that apply when federal funds are www.crs.gov. used to support projects involving highways, public transportation, aviation, and intercity passenger rail, including Amtrak. Unless a nationwide or project-specific waiver is granted, Buy America requires the use of U.S.-made iron and steel and the domestic production and assembly of other manufactured goods, particularly the production of rolling stock (railcars and buses) used in federally funded public transportation and Amtrak’s intercity passenger rail service.