Fixing MadeInUSA Mislabeling; Making Sure Transit Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act Has Teeth

Leslie is rejoined by Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), a partnership established by some of America’s leading manufacturers and the United Steelworkers union.

The two discuss a pair of topics related to American Manufacturing.  First is the issue of fraudulent 'Made in USA' products, and how the FTC can strengthen its enforcement mechanisms to stop the cheaters from getting away with it.

 

Second, Leslie and Scott touch on the Transit Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act (TIVSA).  Congress is passing its annual defense spending bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Attached to this giant bill is legislation – TIVSA – that would ban Chinese state-owned or -backed enterprises from access to the federal procurement market for big-ticket transit items, specifically buses and railcars. It would mean: If a local city transit agency wanted to buy railcars for its subway from a giant manufacturer like CRRC, (a Chinese state-owned enterprise), it wouldn’t be allowed to use federal funding to do so.

But a competing version of the TIVSA legislation is significantly weaker – it creates a huge loophole for the purchasing of buses. Scott discusses which version may end up in the final bill and why.

 

The website for AAM is AmericanManufacturing.org and their Twitter handle is @KeepItMadeInUSA. Scott's Twitter handle is @ScottPaulAAM.

 

*Now is your chance to weigh in: The FTC is accepting public comments through Oct. 11, and you can take part by signing AAM's petition that asks the FTC to strengthen its enforcement of 'Made in USA' labeling. Just go to http://tinyurl.com/FTCMadeInUSAPetition*