Senator Brandenburg offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 168.

            A resolution to urge the President of the United States to aggressively enforce the terms, conditions, and intent of the Buy American Act and to urge no waivers to the act be granted.

            Whereas, The Buy American Act of 1933 was enacted to help ensure public money is directed to domestically-produced end products. The act provides preferential treatment for domestic sources of unmanufactured articles, manufactured goods, and construction material for public use. In so doing, the act asserts America's independence to provide the critical supplies and materials needed for our national defense, rather than relying on foreign-sourced supplies and materials; and

            Whereas, The domestic purchasing requirements in the Buy American Act help protect and promote critical American industries. American manufacturing is the cornerstone of this nation's economic engine, and since June of 2009, manufacturing is responsible for creating more than 185,000 new jobs in Michigan. On average, these good-paying jobs provided more than $81,000 in pay and benefits in 2015 to workers in Michigan's second-largest sector, a sector which accounts for more than 15 percent of the state's gross domestic product; and

            Whereas, Buying American-made products is in the long-term interest of the American taxpayer. The materials and supplies produced by American workers are a good investment. The quality of the items produced domestically ensure that taxpayer money is spent on items that meet robust standards rather than on cheaper foreign-made alternatives that require more maintenance and replacement sooner than American-made goods; and

            Whereas, Enforcing the terms and conditions of the Buy American Act also provides an environment in which small and disadvantaged businesses can thrive. The expense of starting and growing a small business in America creates a disadvantage over foreign competitors. Buy American promotes domestic supply chains, ensuring that America's small businesses play a role in creating domestically-made end products; and

Whereas, Better enforcement of the Buy American Act is necessary to maximize the domestic benefits of this law. In the absence of aggressive enforcement, and with the proliferation of Buy American waivers, American producers and the small businesses upon which we rely are undermined. The federal government should support American manufacturing by aggressively enforcing the Buy American Act and ensuring no waivers to the act are granted; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the President of the United States to aggressively enforce the terms, conditions, and intent of the Buy American Act and to urge no waivers to the act be granted; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.