Joyce Joins POTUS, U.S. Manufacturers in the Oval Office to Support Buy American Initiative

WASHINGTON– Today, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) joined manufacturers from across the country in the Oval Office to support President Donald J. Trump’s signing of a new Executive Order titled Strengthening Buy American Preferences for Infrastructure Projects. Dave, who is a Co-Chair of the Buy American Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, has long supported policies that protect Ohio’s manufacturing jobs.

“I’m always advocating for consumers to purchase products manufactured in America to boost our economy here at home,” said Dave. “I consistently meet with local Northeast Ohio manufacturers about the regulations and trade policies that impact their businesses, and am proud to support policies that not only enable them to create good-paying jobs but to compete in our increasingly global economy as well.”

The manufacturing industry employs over 12 million Americans nationwide, including more than 685,000 in the Buckeye workforce. It is a key pillar of Ohio’s economy, accounting for over $100 billion of the state’s economic output. Over 70 percent of the hundreds of thousands of manufacturers in the United States have fewer than 20 employees and as of 2017, small businesses comprised 89 percent of all exporters in Ohio. 

“Most people don’t know that the majority of these companies are small businesses,” said CEO of the Fredon Corporation Roger Sustar. Fredon manufactures precision machined parts and assemblies in Mentor, Ohio. “Manufacturers like us are the backbone of America. We support those in our community through good-paying, family-sustaining jobs and are always looking to support other local small businesses. I thank Congressman Joyce for all he has done to help small businesses like mine so that we can continue to support our communities and make America great again.”

Sustar is also the founder of the Alliance for Working Together (AWT), which serves as a forum for manufacturers in Lake County to discuss the challenges facing their industry and provides the next generation with opportunities to learn about careers in manufacturing.

To learn more about manufacturing in the United States, click here.

To learn more about the Strengthening Buy American Preferences for Infrastructure Projects Executive Order, click here.