Senator Stabenow Announces American Jobs Agenda at Press Conferences in Detroit, Flint, and Lansing

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today announced her American Jobs Agenda at press conferences in Detroit, Flint, and Lansing.  In Detroit, she announced her agenda at Detroit Denim Company, a manufacturer of jeans handmade by Detroit workers and created with materials made by American companies.  In Flint, she announced her agenda at Rogers Foam, which produces over 90 crucial foam components to protect car batteries that are used in vehicles like the Chevy Volt, Chevy Bolt, and Cadillac ELR.  And in Lansing, she spoke about her agenda at Lansing Community College West Campus, which houses the college’s Michigan Technical Education Center. 

“We need to be laser focused on creating jobs right here in Michigan,” said Senator Stabenow.  “My American Jobs Agenda ensures we are making products in this country, closing loopholes that hurt workers and businesses, and holding countries like China accountable for unfair trade practices.  I appreciate businesses like Detroit Denim and Rogers Foam who are committed to investing in our workers and creating jobs in Michigan.” 

“I’m really happy to have the Senator at our company today,” said Eric Yelsma, founder of Detroit Denim.  “Hiring and training workers here in Detroit is one of our top priorities.  To see that Senator Stabenow is supporting that by creating bills and initiatives to support our goal is a really important thing.” 

“Rogers Foam Automotive is very grateful for Senator Stabenow’s commitment to the State of Michigan businesses,” said Tim Nyman, Plant Manager for Rogers Foam Automotive Corporation in Flint. “Her continuous work has helped Rogers Foam Automotive grow in the city of Flint creating jobs and making a presence in the city. We thank her for all her efforts.”

“LEAP is very supportive of Senator Stabenow’s American Jobs Agenda and the many benefits it will bring to our country’s economy," said Bob Trezise, President & CEO of the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP). “Through fair trade practices and incentives for investing at home in the U.S., this important bill will help LEAP fulfill our core mission – which is to attract more business to Metro Lansing, help our local companies grow, and to create more and better jobs for families in our region.”

Stabenow’s American Jobs Agenda has three parts: her Bring Jobs Home Act, her Make It In America Act, and her efforts to strengthen enforcement against countries that violate our trade laws.  For more information on Senator Stabenow’s American Jobs Agenda, click here.   

During her small business tour across Michigan, Senator Stabenow visited Grand Haven in August 2016 and met with the CEO of R.A. Miller Industries (RAMI), a manufacturer of high-tech products for our military.  RAMI’s CEO expressed concern that our Buy American policies, meant to give priority to American companies when the federal government purchases goods, weren’t working. 

In response, Senator Stabenow got to work and went back to RAMI to announce her Make It In America Act (S.908), which would create stricter guidelines to make it harder for federal agencies to use waivers to get around Buy American requirements. This will level the playing field for American companies, and especially help our small businesses and start-ups compete for federal contracts. 

Her Bring Jobs Home Act (S.247) closes a tax loophole that currently rewards companies for moving jobs abroad.  This bill would change the law so that companies moving jobs overseas cannot deduct their expenses for doing so. The bill would also provide a tax credit for companies that move jobs and business activities from another country back to America. 

Senator Stabenow has also led the effort to strengthen enforcement against countries that manipulate their currency, which hurts businesses and workers.  She worked successfully to make permanent a new trade enforcement center to monitor and enforce our trade laws.  The center is responsible for cracking down on countries that are breaking the rules so our businesses and workers can fairly compete.