Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown
NEW PHILADELPHIA, OH – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined Gradall Industries leadership and representatives from the International Association of Machinists Local 1285 at Gradall Industries’ manufacturing plant. Brown discussed Buy America protections he secured in the bipartisan infrastructure plan, the potential opportunities for Ohio suppliers like Gradall, and the benefits of a skilled, union workforce.
“With the bipartisan infrastructure plan, we have a tremendous opportunity to use Ohio-made, union-made products like those made here at Gradall in projects across Ohio and around the country,” said Brown. “We’re putting in place a clear, permanent standard: American taxpayer dollars should support American jobs, period. The investments we are making will support good Ohio, union companies – not foreign competitors. And that means job creation up and down the supply chain.”
Brown first introduced his bipartisan Build America Buy America legislation in 2017 and successfully fought to include it in the bipartisan infrastructure plan. The Buy America protections will ensure taxpayer dollars are used to buy and include American-made products for all federally funded infrastructure projects. The legislation will close loopholes and secure major investment in products made by American workers.
“On behalf of all the Gradall team, I would like to thank Senator Brown for his visit today,” said Mike Haberman, Executive VP, Industrial Equipment Division of Alamo Group and the former President of Gradall Industries, Incorporated. “This infrastructure bill gives Gradall and many other American companies the opportunity to continue offering manufacturing jobs to American workers while improving infrastructure that is critical to the competitiveness of American companies!”
Bob Brown, incoming president of the International Association of Machinists Local 1285, also expressed support of Sen. Brown’s Buy America efforts, saying in a statement, “I’ll be proud to know that when those infrastructure projects start – they will mean our tax dollars are being used to buy American-made products to go into America-built infrastructure projects. We know we need to build America better and the only way to do that is from the inside out.”
Gradall Industries is a member of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), which also supports the senator’s efforts to invest in American suppliers and American infrastructure.
“Senator Brown works tirelessly to support pro-manufacturing policies that benefit the equipment manufacturing industry’s 164,000 men and women in Ohio,” Kip Eideberg, AEM senior vice president of government and industry relations, said in a statement. “We greatly appreciate the leadership shown by Senator Brown in helping to secure the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and his strong commitment to ensuring the success of our industry and our ability to keep Ohio strong and prosperous.”
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