Pappas secured a key amendment to the America COMPETES Act to increase the procurement of American-made products, including protective gear, by the federal government.
Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), a small business owner and Co-Chair of the bipartisan House Small Business Caucus, hosted a roundtable conversation with New Hampshire manufacturers to discuss the importance of bolstering domestic manufacturing as well as legislation he introduced to ensure more goods are produced right here in New Hampshire. They also spoke about the bipartisan infrastructure law, crafted and supported by Rep. Pappas, which included language to require more federal agencies to purchase American-made personal protective equipment (PPE).
Pappas was joined by several New Hampshire manufacturers, including Velcro, Granite State Manufacturing, Gentex, and Alkegen. They discussed the importance to New Hampshire's economy of strengthening domestic supply chains, which will create more good-paying jobs while protecting our economic and national security.
"It could not be more important, for both our economy and our national security, that we make more products right here in America," said Congressman Pappas. "Whether it is microchips and semiconductors, PPE, or defense equipment, procuring and purchasing more goods made by American small businesses will be a win for workers and companies that manufacture their products here in the United States. This will create more jobs, support domestic manufacturing, and strengthen domestic supply chains. I want to thank the businesses who joined this conversation for the work they are doing producing vital goods here in New Hampshire, and I remain committed to fighting for policies that make it easier for more companies to make products here in America."
Manufacturing represents 10.35%, or 65,000 employees at over 1,700 firms, of New Hampshire's workforce. New Hampshire manufacturers produce $10 billion worth of output annually, representing 11.46% of our total gross state product.
Pappas helped introduce the Homeland Procurement Reform (HOPR) Act and secured its inclusion as an amendment in the America COMPETES Act. HOPR directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure that procurement of certain items, such as body armor and other protective gear, meets specified requirements, including that one-third of procurement funds be used for items manufactured by U.S. small businesses.
Pappas worked to craft and passed the bipartisan Infrasture Investment and Jobs Act, which included the Make PPE in America Act, requiring a wide range of federal agencies–including Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, and the Veterans Administration–to purchase American-made PPE. It also requires federal agencies to issue long-term contracts to U.S. manufacturers and strengthens efforts to onshore production of personal protective equipment (PPE).
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