Dem presses Trump to complete overdue ‘Buy American’ report

A Democratic Senator is pressing President Trump to complete an overdue report on so-called Buy American laws, a staple of his campaign platform.

Trump, who has long promised that his policies would use American products and hire American employees, signed an executive order in April directing his administration to complete a report by November that examines laws requiring the government to purchase goods made in the U.S.

But Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) said the report is still incomplete and called on the White House to make finishing the document a top priority.

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“I understand that the report is not finished and I am writing to urge your administration to expedite the publication of this now late report,” Baldwin wrote in a letter to Trump on Tuesday.

“And I remain hopeful that we can work together to ensure Congress strengthens our government’s commitment to buying American-made goods in order to improve wages, boost growth and support American manufacturers.”

Federal projects are already required to use American products under current law, but there are a number of exemptions to the rule. Supporters of the law in Congress have been pushing to close some of those loopholes.

Baldwin was able to attach language to a water infrastructure bill last year that would have required certain drinking water projects to use American steel and iron.

But House GOP leadership stripped the provision from the final product, citing concerns that the language would create an unfair system of winners and losers.

“I have been working to strengthen Buy American laws … but I have faced resistance in Congress,” Baldwin wrote. “I hope that your forthcoming report will make clear that foreign steal will not qualify for preferential treatment under our Buy American laws.”