Rapid Response Has a HUGE Day on Capitol Hill!
Our Fight Secures a Strong “Buy America” Provision, Stops Outsourcers’ Efforts that Would
Undermine U.S. Jobs, Helps Move Obama’s Economic Renewal Plan Forward AND
Puts Pressure on Congress to Pass the Employee Free Choice Act!

• Yesterday, nearly 800 Rapid Response activists coverged upon Capitol Hill to tell their Senators: Pass a strong economic renewal plan, and ensure that those dollars support U.S. workers through a common-sense Buy America provision.  Also, as these activists were making our demands in person, more than 3,800 USW members in key states were calling a handful of targeted senators to give them the same message by phone.

• While this was happening, the nation’s chief outsourcers – those same people who push for unfair trade at every turn – have been denouncing Buy America in favor of spending the money on foreign goods for our building projects and infrastrucutre. 

• The outsourcers have a key ally on their side; John McCain tried to rally fellow Senators behind an amendment he introduced to strip the strong Buy America provision from the bill.  The good news is that the McCain amendment failed by a vote of 65 to 31.  All Democrats voted against the McCain bill.  All Republicans except Snowe (ME), Vitter (LA), Collins (ME), Hutchison (TX), Burr (NC), Graham (SC), Specter (PA), Brownback (KS), and Grassley (IA) voted for the McCain amendment.  Independent Sen. Lieberman voted with McCain.

• Also, we extended the Buy America provisions to include ALL manufactured products and not just iron and steel as the House version calls for.

• The Senate is expected to vote on the overall bill that includes the Buy America provision very soon.  Because the House has already passed another version of the bill, details will need to be worked out.  Rapid Response will continue to track progress.

• We also started the delivery of a million and a half cards in support of the Employee Free Choice Act and told our Senators and Representatives that we need this bill to make our economy work for everyone again.  Dozens more are now cosponsors!