Leader Schumer & Senate Democrats Introduce Legislation To Rebuild American Manufacturing, Lower Costs, And Create Good-Paying Jobs

Landmark Legislation Would Expand The Export-Import Bank's Mission And Tools To Break The Cycle Of Supply Chain Crises That Raise Costs For American Families And Jeopardize National Security

Washington, D.C. - Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) are introducing the Make More in America Act to rebuild American manufacturing capacity in industries critical to our economy and national security, reducing the country's dangerous dependence on foreign supply chains, especially in China, and creating good-paying jobs across the country.

Year after year, Americans have paid the price for the country's overdependence on fragile global supply chains. There is an urgent need to build back American manufacturing to ensure the country is less vulnerable to higher costs and shortages from broken or undermined supply chains, like we are experiencing with Trump's reckless war in Iran leading to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz or when China threatened to cut off the flow of rare earths and magnets last year. Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) are fighting back and introducing the Make More in America Act. The legislation would expand the mission, tools, and investment capacity of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) to partner with the private sector to grow strategic American industries, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, quantum technology, biotechnology, energy technology like batteries and fusion, robotics, and shipbuilding.

The Make More in America Act will help break the cycle of global supply chain shocks that are crushing the American people and jeopardizing our national security by ensuring we can make what we need at home, while also investing in and supporting quality jobs for the American workers building those industries.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed dangerous shortages in ventilators and personal protective equipment. During the COVID-19 era, Americans also felt the pain of major price increases on cars, household appliances, and electronics due to a supply chain shock in semiconductor chips. Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent energy and food costs soaring. And now, the Iran war's closure of the Strait of Hormuz is once again hammering American families at the checkout line and the gas pump by causing new supply chain crises. Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist Party is aggressively working to dominate the industries America's economy relies on, weaponizing our dependence on Chinese rare earths, magnets, and critical materials as a tool of economic coercion.

"Americans cannot keep paying the price every time a supply chain crisis hits - whether it's a pandemic, a war, or the whims of the Chinese Communist Party trying to undermine the American economy," said Leader Schumer. "We have to break the cycle of supple chain shocks that are raising prices, invest in American industry, and protect our national security. As families are facing an affordability crisis and our economic and national security is jeopardized by decades of offshoring manufacturing, including to China, we must work overtime to bring manufacturing and good-paying jobs back to America. There is no reason that the products and technologies that Americans rely on cannot be made here at home. The Make More in America Act is exactly the kind of bold investment we need to outcompete the CCP and drive American prosperity and security."

"The United States has faced a manufacturing decline under the Trump Administration and we need to reverse that trend. We must bolster domestic supply chains, revive America's manufacturing competitiveness, and get our manufacturing workforce growing again to ensure America is capable of responding to global threats and builds critical technologies here at home. This bill is an innovative investment that would strengthen America's manufacturing capacity in strategic sectors that are critical to national security and our economy," said Senator Reed.

"People are facing higher costs, and good-paying jobs are becoming harder to find. Doing nothing is not an option," said Senator Schatz. "Our bill invests in American workers, rebuilds key manufacturing and technology industries, creates new jobs, and will help drive long-term economic growth."

"The Make More in America Act is built on a clear mission: to ensure American workers can compete and win in a global economy," said Senator Booker. "By expanding the Export Import Bank's core mandate, this legislation strengthens EXIM's ability to support the industries that are essential to our national security and economic leadership from semiconductors to advanced manufacturing. When American companies succeed in global markets, good paying jobs stay rooted in New Jersey and in communities across the nation. This Act ensures taxpayer dollars are used to help American workers earn more in wages and benefits, and improves the Bank's ability to invest in the production we need at home. The Make More in America Act will help our nation build more of the products and technologies we rely on right here in the United States and ensure American workers are central and the primary beneficiaries of that success."

"The Export-Import Bank is an indispensable tool for ensuring U.S. exports and small businesses are competitive around the world. But the Bank can do so much more: with the right tools, it can help us reshore manufacturing to America, build resilient supply chains, and create high-paying jobs across the country," said Senator Warren. "This legislation will help ensure that more things are built here in the United States by American workers."

"Growing our manufacturing base here at home will not only boost our economy, but our national security as well, especially as Americans are faced with rising costs and diminished job options. This legislation will help us create good-paying jobs at home, strengthen American manufacturing, and lower costs for families across our country," said Senator Van Hollen.

"When global economic crises strike and supply chains are disrupted, Americans are too often left to foot the bill," said Senator Duckworth. "Congress must take action to protect families from the next Republican-led crisis and prevent any more unexpected spikes in costs. By making more in America, we can help insulate our economy from global supply chain disruptions, strengthen our national security and invest heavily in good-paying jobs here at home."

"Trump's 'golden age of American manufacturing' is just another broken promise. Instead, folks are faced with skyrocketing costs without being able to get good-paying jobs," said Senator Kelly. "We cannot keep relying on foreign supply chains that leave us vulnerable. It's bad for our economy and our national security. This bill will help us continue to build more things here at home and create good-paying jobs while reducing our dependency on foreign adversaries."

"Trump's "golden age" is not for us. As his war raises our costs and shakes the global economy, China is reaping the rewards of his failures while we pay the price. Working families need Congress to take action that will build up manufacturing here at home, create new jobs, and strengthen our global competitiveness and national security. It's on Congress to build a more resilient economy that can withstand turmoil whether from this White House or from emerging global threats," said Senator Kim.

"Americans are struggling with rising prices across the board while reliable domestic manufacturing jobs are moving overseas," said Senator Blunt Rochester. "I am proud to partner with my colleagues to introduce the Make More in America Act, which will reduce our dependence on global supply chains, create new jobs, and lower costs for communities in Delaware and across the nation."

"I want Marylanders to not just get by or live on the margins. I want Marylanders to truly thrive and live beyond their wildest dreams. But that starts with lowering costs and securing good-paying jobs. Our Make More in America Act will rebuild American manufacturing and create jobs. Let's get this done and give our constituents a chance at the American dream, that's what they deserve," said Senator Alsobrooks.

The legislation will allow EXIM investment to build or expand a manufacturing facility in the U.S. so more manufacturing of critical technologies happens in America. The bill also ensures that the expanded capacity of the EXIM will directly benefit American workers and communities. Projects supported under the program must demonstrate support for American jobs, pay prevailing wages for construction, protect existing collective bargaining agreements and remain neutral in union organizing , and include commitments to workforce training and education. More favorable terms are available for projects in economically distressed communities and those creating higher-wage jobs. To protect against misuse of taxpayer money, funds cannot be used for stock buybacks or to repay pre-existing debts, and are subject to clawback if projects are not completed on time or fail to meet labor requirements. To ensure these investments serve the national interest, senior executive branch officials, including the President and Vice President, Members of Congress, and their immediate families are barred from receiving EXIM support under the bill. The Make More in America Act also expands government-wide tools and capacity to strengthen domestic manufacturing.

The AFL-CIO, American Alliance for Biomanufacturing, AUVSI, Employ America, Federation of American Scientists, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union), SCSP Action Program, LLC, and United Steelworkers have all endorsed this legislation.

You can find a copy of the bill text here.

You can find a broader summary of the bill here.

###