Kelly, Schumer, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Rebuild American Manufacturing, Lower Costs, and Create Good-Paying Jobs

Landmark Legislation Boosts Domestic Manufacturing and Alleviates Supply Chain Crises That Raise Costs for American Families and Jeopardize National Security Today, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jack Reed (D-RI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) introduced the Make More in America Act to rebuild American manufacturing capacity in industries critical to our economy and national security, reducing the country’s dangerous dependence on foreign supply chains, especially in China, and creating good-paying jobs across the country. The legislation builds on Kelly’s work to bring manufacturing back to America. In 2022, Kelly’s CHIPS and Science Act was signed into law, which has significantly boosted domestic semiconductor manufacturing. Most recently, Kelly, alongside Senator Todd Young (R-IN), and Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA-08) and Trent Kelly (R-MS-01), introduced the SHIPS for America Act to revitalize the United States shipbuilding and commercial maritime industries. “Trump’s ‘golden age of American manufacturing’ is just another broken promise. Instead, folks are faced with skyrocketing costs without being able to get good-paying jobs,” said Kelly. “We cannot keep relying on foreign supply chains that leave us vulnerable. It’s bad for our economy and our national security. This bill will help us continue to build more things here at home and create good-paying jobs while reducing our dependency on foreign adversaries.” “Americans cannot keep paying the price every time a supply chain crisis hits — whether it’s a pandemic, a war, or the whims of the Chinese Communist Party trying to undermine the American economy,” said Schumer. “We have to break the cycle of supple chain shocks that are raising prices, invest in American industry, and protect our national security. As families are facing a Republican-led affordability crisis, we must work overtime to bring back good-paying jobs and strengthen our economy. There is no reason that the products and technologies that Americans rely on cannot be made here at home. The Make More in America is exactly the kind of bold investment we need to outcompete the CCP and drive American prosperity and security — and Democrats are ready to deliver it.” “The United States has faced a manufacturing decline under the Trump Administration and we need to reverse that trend.  We must bolster domestic supply chains, revive America’s manufacturing competitiveness, and get our manufacturing workforce growing again to ensure America is capable of responding to global threats and builds critical technologies here at home.  This bill is an innovative investment that would strengthen America’s manufacturing capacity in strategic sectors that are critical to national security and our economy,” said Reed. “People are facing higher costs, and good-paying jobs are becoming harder to find. Doing nothing is not an option,” said Schatz. “Our bill invests in American workers, rebuilds key manufacturing and technology industries, creates new jobs, and will help drive long-term economic growth.” “The Make More in America Act is built on a clear mission: to ensure American workers can compete and win in a global economy,” said Booker. “By expanding the Export Import Bank’s core mandate, this legislation strengthens EXIM’s ability to support the industries that are essential to our national security and economic leadership from semiconductors to advanced manufacturing. When American companies succeed in global markets, good paying jobs stay rooted in New Jersey and in communities across the nation. This Act ensures taxpayer dollars are used to help American workers earn more in wages and benefits, and improves the Bank’s ability to invest in the production we need at home. The Make More in America Act will help our nation build more of the products and technologies we rely on right here in the United States and ensure American workers are central and the primary beneficiaries of that success.” “The Export-Import Bank is an indispensable tool for ensuring U.S. exports and small businesses are competitive around the world. But the Bank can do so much more: with the right tools, it can help us reshore manufacturing to America, build resilient supply chains, and create high-paying jobs across the country,” said Warren. “This legislation will help ensure that more things are built here in the United States by American workers.” “Growing our manufacturing base here at home will not only boost our economy, but our national security as well, especially as Americans are faced with rising costs and diminished job options. This legislation will help us create good-paying jobs at home, strengthen American manufacturing, and lower costs for families across our country,” said Van Hollen . “When global economic crises strike and supply chains are disrupted, Americans are too often left to foot the bill,” said Duckworth. “Congress must take action to protect families from the next Republican-led crisis and prevent any more unexpected spikes in costs. By making more in America, we can help insulate our economy from global supply chain disruptions, strengthen our national security and invest heavily in good-paying jobs here at home.” “Trump’s “golden age” is not for us. As his war raises our costs and shakes the global economy, China is reaping the rewards of his failures while we pay the price. Working families need Congress to take action that will build up manufacturing here at home, create new jobs, and strengthen our global competitiveness and national security. It’s on Congress to build a more resilient economy that can withstand turmoil whether from this White House or from emerging global threats,” said Kim. “Americans are struggling with rising prices across the board while reliable domestic manufacturing jobs are moving overseas,” said Blunt Rochester. “I am proud to partner with my colleagues to introduce the Make More in America Act, which will reduce our dependence on global supply chains, create new jobs, and lower costs for communities in Delaware and across the nation.” “I want Marylanders to not just get by or live on the margins. I want Marylanders to truly thrive and live beyond their wildest dreams. But that starts with lowering costs and securing good-paying jobs. Our Make More in America Act will rebuild American manufacturing and create jobs. Let’s get this done and give our constituents a chance at the American dream, that’s what they deserve,” said Alsobrooks. The Make More in America Act is endorsed by AUVSI, Employ America, the Federation of American Scientists, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), and the SCSP Action Program. Background: President Trump promised a “golden age of American manufacturing.” But in the last year alone, tens of thousands of American manufacturing jobs have been lost , and the country still relies too much on foreign manufacturers. By not building back American manufacturing, the country is vulnerable to higher costs and shortages, as we’ve seen with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to Trump’s reckless war in Iran, or China’s threats to cut off the flow of rare earths and magnets last year. Year after year, Americans have paid the price for the country’s overdependence on fragile global supply chains. After the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans felt the pain of major price increases on cars, household appliances, and electronics due to a supply chain shock in semiconductor chips. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent energy and food costs soaring. And now, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused gas prices to skyrocket. Meanwhile, China is aggressively working to dominate the industries America’s economy relies on, weaponizing our dependence on Chinese rare earths, magnets, and critical materials as a tool of economic coercion. In 2022, EXIM launched the Make More in America Initiative (MMIA) to support “export-oriented domestic manufacturing projects,” extending some of EXIM’s existing demand-driven, export-contingent financing programs to a more domestic focus to help expand American manufacturing capabilities and capacity. The Make More in America Act builds on these efforts by: Expanding the mission, tools, and investment capacity of EXIM to partner with the private sector to grow strategic American industries, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, quantum technology, biotechnology, energy technology like batteries and fusion, robotics, and shipbuilding. Codifying MMIA, making it permanent with a 30% EXIM portfolio goal across industries dominated by China. Providing financing to support domestic manufacturing projects, including development, commercialization, and workforce training. Requiring projects to demonstrate support for American jobs and make commitments to invest in workers and communities through training and education. Ensuring accountability by prohibiting funds from being used for stock buybacks or to pay off debt, and barring senior officials—including the President, Vice President, and Members of Congress and immediate families—from receiving EXIM financing. Click here to read the full text of the bill and click here for a summary.