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Ryan Adds Language in Bill to Protect Manufacturers
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17 Ohio, announced yesterday that the 2005 House Defense bill includes a U.S. manufacturing requirement that he has fought for since coming to Congress.He praised the inclusion of language in the FY2005 Defense Authorization Bill that would protect America's defense industrial base and support domestic manufacturing companies such as RMI Titanium in Niles, Ohio.Ryan offered nearly identical language to the FY2004 Defense Authorization last year.That language was accepted in the House-passed FY2004 Defense Authorization Bill, but not included in the final House-Senate Conference report.Ryan's language was incorporated into a bill recently introduced by Rep. Rep. Robin Hayes of Concord, N.C., R-8, and included in this year's Defense Authorization Bill. The 30-year-old Berry Amendment law recognizes that certain domestic manufacturing capabilities are so critical to the country's military might that the products must be produced in the United States. However, in recent years, the Department of Defense has routinely waived the domestic manufacturing requirement, allowing contractors to purchase products and materials from offshore suppliers. an Ryan worked closely with Armed Services Chairman Duncan Hunter of Alpine, Calif., R-52, to require the Department of Defense to notify Congress 15 days prior to waiving the provisions of the Berry Amendment. That provision is now part of the FY2005 Defense Authorization bill, and if enacted into law, would give companies such as RMI Titanium a chance to prove they can compete with foreign manufacturers."American soldiers should use American-made equipment. It's good for our national security and good for American workers," Ryan said. "These are taxpayer dollars, and taxpayers should be told when their money is being used to pay the salaries of foreign workers instead of American workers." "