U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act
Democrats in Congress are fighting to help small businesses and U.S. manufacturing create jobs here at home. Democrats are taking America in a New Direction – creating good American jobs, providing the lowest taxes in 60 years for the middle class, and closing tax loopholes that send jobs overseas.
On July 21st, the House passed the U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act (H.R. 4380) by a vote of 378 - 43—a miscellaneous tariff bill (MTB) to help U.S. manufacturers compete at home and abroad by temporarily suspending or reducing duties on intermediate products or materials these companies use that are not made domestically or opposed by domestic producers.
This is part of our American manufacturing strategy to ensure a new prosperity by promoting American competitiveness, innovation and exports. These reductions and suspensions of import duties lower costs for materials American businesses use in production and thereby increase the competitiveness of our products.
Key to building a strong American economy and leveling the playing field for U.S. firms, the bill is estimated to support tens of thousands of jobs, helping increase U.S. production and expand gross domestic product (GDP) by billions of dollars. As the Minneapolis Star Tribune explains:
"The MTB is one of the most important short-term actions that Congress can take to preserve and expand good American jobs, cut the cost of doing business in this country, boost American manufacturing competitiveness, and boost our manufacturing exports,'' said National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO John Engler.
The bill is supported by over 130 businesses, including Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, leading U.S. textiles associations (NCTO, AMTAC), 3M, Bayer, Bridgestone, John Deere, Mattel, Dow Chemical, Dupont, Ford, GM, Honeywell, Proctor and Gamble, and Whirlpool.
Learn more from the Ways & Means Committee»