Chairman Williams Op-Ed: Texas is Leading the American Manufacturing Comeback

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the following Op-Ed by Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, appeared in The Dallas Morning News.

"For decades, decisions made in Washington, D.C., have made it easier to build overseas than in America. Factories closed, supply chains moved abroad, and communities across the country watched high-payingmanufacturing jobs vanish.

"Thanks to President Donald Trump, the story is changing.

"America is building again, manufacturers are growing more confident, and investment is returning to communities across the country. Congressional Republicans are driving this comeback by creating an economy that rewards businesses for investing, expanding, and producing in America.

"A major part of that effort is 100% expensing, one of the biggest wins in the historicWorking Families Tax Cuts House Republicans passed last year, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

"We made crucial tax cuts permanent, allowing manufacturers to immediately deduct the cost of qualifying investments, such as machinery and equipment, rather than recovering those costs over years. The law also established 100% expensing for qualifying production property, providing manufacturers with an additional incentive to build and expand production facilities in the United States.

"For a manufacturer deciding whether to purchase a new machine, expand a production line, or build its next facility in America, these pro-growth policies make a significant difference. Letting businesses recover those investments quickly frees up capital to reinvest in workers, equipment, and future growth.

"That is how we make America the best place in the world to build again. Manufacturers are responding withrenewed optimism, and Congress must continue to provide them with the tools and certainty they need to grow.

"As Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, I have prioritized expanding access to capital for American manufacturers. That is why I introduced theMade in America Manufacturing Finance Act, which doubles the maximum loan amount available to small manufacturers through U.S. Small Business Administration's loan programs, from $5 million to $10 million.

"Together, pro-growth tax policies and the Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act will help small manufacturers access the capital needed to expand, create jobs, and invest in the future of American manufacturing.

"As a lifelong small business owner, I know that when manufacturers invest, the entire small business community reaps the benefits - from the small businesses that supply parts and transport goods to those that provide services and support workers in communities across America.

"My home state of Texas shows exactly what is possible when we create an environment in which manufacturers can thrive.

"The Working Families Tax Cuts haveprotected an estimated 547,000 Texas jobs, preserved $51 billion in wages, and safeguarded $107 billion in gross domestic product, according to EY and the National Association of Manufacturers. That kind of permanence gives companies the confidence to expand, hire, and bring production back to American soil.

"Texas supports about980,000 manufacturing jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Lone Star State's strong manufacturing background and skilled workforce foster growth and, as a result, continue to attract significant investment.

"In 2025, Texas secured$21.5 billion in new foreign direct investment, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the second-highest in any state.

"Recently,Amazon announced a multibillion-dollar investment in a new robotics manufacturing facility in Austin. The facility is expected to create 300 to 500 high-paying manufacturing and engineering jobs while producing advanced robotics systems here in the United States.

"That is the kind of investment we want to see across the country.

"For generations, American manufacturing has driven innovation, opportunity, and economic strength. America should never depend on foreign countries to produce the products we need, especially for our defense industrial base.

"We have skilled workers. We have entrepreneurs. We have the resources. And now, we have policies that reward companies for putting them to work right here at home.

"The American manufacturing comeback is underway, and Texas is showing the country how it is done."

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