http://www.metro-magazine.com/news/story/2013/09/fta-agreement-helps-id-buy-america-compliant-products.aspx?ref=rail-transit-20130925&utm_campaign=rail-transit-20130925
September 24, 2013
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced an interagency
agreement that will make it easier for manufacturers and transit
agencies to identify domestically made products, such as rolling stock
and other steel and iron components that comply with FTA’s “Buy America” rules requiring at least 60% of the components must be manufactured in the U.S.
The agreement, with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) also will foster a growing
network of U.S. equipment manufacturers and potential suppliers.
“The
Department of Transportation’s Buy America program promotes American
jobs, encourages innovation and revitalizes our manufacturing sector as
we build a strong domestic supply chain for our nation’s infrastructure
needs,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “We will continue to
support programs like this one so that more of America’s hard-working
families have access to good opportunities and a brighter future.”
Through
Buy America, FTA helps to ensure that transit vans, buses, streetcars
and railcars funded with taxpayer dollars are built in the U.S. using
American-made materials and labor. As part of the agreement, NIST will
help FTA identify U.S. companies that make or have the capability to
make products for the transit industry that are particularly difficult
to source or are currently unavailable in the U.S. This will help to
maximize compliance and minimize waiver requests seeking Buy America
exemptions from the U.S. Department of Transportation. NIST will also
conduct a series of outreach events to connect equipment manufacturers
with potential suppliers.
“Our goal is simply to make sure that
we invest America’s taxpayer dollars into America’s transit workforce
and industry,” said Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff. “Between
2008 and 2012, FTA reduced the number of Buy America waivers allowing
companies to source their materials off-shore from 37 down to just
three, which clearly shows that our industry partners are finding new
and innovative ways to make and assemble transit vehicles and other
components here at home.”
Consistent with the Obama
Administration’s efforts to boost domestic employment through
infrastructure investment, FTA has dramatically strengthened its
adherence and enforcement of its Buy America rules. FTA has vigorously
investigated alleged violations and has also begun reviewing select
rolling stock procurements to ensure that the vehicles rolling off the
assembly line actually contained the percentage of U.S.-made
infrastructure required under its regulations.
Purpose
