Donald Manzullo

Mr. MANZULLO

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the resolution.

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez), the ranking minority member of the committee, be added as a an original cosponsor of H. Res. 368.

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as has been the tradition for the past 40 years, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation calling for the celebration of Small Business Week, which I include for the Record today. We are now in the middle of Small Business Week for 2003, which is being sponsored by the Small Business Administration. The purpose of this week's celebration is to honor over 25 million businesses that make up the U.S. small business community. It is very appropriate for us, today, to recognize the importance of America's small businesses and the significant role played by the Small Business Administration in our Nation's economic growth. This year is particularly important in recognizing the 50th anniversary of the SBA. President Eisenhower and Congress established the SBA in 1953 to provide financial and management assistance to startup and growing small businesses. Over the past 50 years, the SBA has helped countless numbers of small businesses survive and succeed in this economy. It maintains a portfolio of guaranteed small business loans and disaster loans totaling more than $45 billion. The 7(a) program alone accounts for approximately 40 to 50 percent of all long-term capital needs for small businesses. The SBA has also guaranteed another $13 billion in venture capital investments to small businesses. To complement its successful credit programs, the SBA's management assistance programs were delivered to more than 1 million small businesses during the past year. Some of the great American companies that are now household names were initially started with assistance from the SBA. Allen-Edmonds Shoe, the Panda Restaurant Group, Winnebago Industries with help from the 7(a) program, Callaway Golf, FedEx, Hewlett Packard, Intel Corporation, Jenny Craig, Outback Steakhouse, Staples, Sun Microsystems and the Gymboree Corporation all started with infusions of capital from the Small Business Investment Company program. U.S. small businesses are the driving forces behind our economy and are poised to lead this Nation out of its economic doldrums. More than 99 percent of all employers in the U.S. are small businesses, providing between 60 and 80 percent of the net new jobs added to our workforce. In fact, the National Federal of Independent Businesses said that in August hiring intentions among small businesses are at the highest level in a year. Small businesses have proven, year in and year out, that they are a potent force in the economy, accounting for over 50 percent of the private sector output. And their sights are not just set at home. Leading the way towards a global economy, the small business community represents 96 percent of all U.S. exporters. Over the past 3 years, I have been the chairman of the Committee on Small Business and the previous 6 years as the subcommittee chairman. I have witnessed the enormous potential of America's small businesses at work. As someone who grew up in a small, family-owned business and who ran his own law firm, I know that small businesses are flexible, creative, give us jobs, provide economic growth, and, most importantly, provide hope in a future for millions of families and communities across our Nation. The resolution now before the House recognizes the critical role played by small businesses and the Small Business Administration in our economy. It is appropriate that we take a moment from our busy schedule to acknowledge the success of small businesses and to encourage our Federal Government to continue to provide it help to ensure future successes. I urge each of my colleagues to vote for H. Res. 368 as a way to say thank you to the SBA and the small business community for its contributions to our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record the White House proclamation. Small Business Week, 2003--by the President of the United States of America--a Proclamation The success of small businesses in America reflects the innovation, determination, and hard work of the American people. During Small Business Week, we celebrate the entrepreneurs and business people who create goods, services, and jobs, and bring opportunity and economic prosperity to communities throughout our country. We also reaffirm our commitment to helping more small business owners and their employees realize the American Dream. Small businesses create the majority of new jobs in our Nation and account for more than half of the output of our economy. They lead the way in generating new ideas and creating new technologies, goods, and services for our country and for the world. Small businesses also reflect the diversity of America. Nearly 40 percent of small companies in the United States are owned by women. There are also more than 3 million minority- owned small businesses across the country. Because small businesses are vital to our Nation's prosperity and reflect the hard work of the American people, my Administration has taken important steps to assist small businesses and the people they employ. We have reduced taxes, encouraged investment, and removed obstacles to growth. The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 I signed into law will provide 23 million small business owners with tax cuts averaging more than $2,200 each. The Act also quadrupled the amount that small businesses can expense for new capital investments, encouraging new investment in technology, machinery, and other equipment. This new technology and equipment will increase productivity and create new jobs, thereby contributing to the overall strength of our economy. We are also seeking to permanently eliminate the death tax. With the repeal of this tax, small business men and women will be able to pass their life's work to the next generation without having to pay a punitive tax that in many cases forces the sale of the business or many of its assets. And I support legislation that would make it easier for small businesses to offer health coverage options to their employees. Through Association Health Plans, small businesses could pool together to offer group plans to all of their employees, like those available to large businesses. In addition, we are working to streamline small business regulations and paperwork. To this end, I issued an Executive Order that requires all Federal regulatory agencies to minimize these burdens on our Nation's small businesses. The Small Business Administration (SBA), which helps American innovators and risk-takers launch and build their businesses, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. By helping small businesses succeed, the SBA continues to strengthen America. Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 14 through September 20, 2003, as Small Business Week. I call upon all the people of the United States to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs that celebrate the achievements of small business owners and their employees and encourage and foster the development of new small businesses. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth. George W. Bush. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 368) honoring the Small Business Administration on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.

Mr. MANZULLO

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, in a couple of minutes when I finish speaking, I will move to withdraw my amendment from the floor and acknowledge the propriety of the point of order and the circumstances. This amendment would increase the American-made content of the equipment purchased under the bill from 50 to 65 percent. This modest increase will strengthen the job-creation benefits of the bill. I am all for having a strong construction industry in America, and the infrastructure funded by this bill will provide many jobs in that industry. At the same time, I want to give our manufacturing industry the same boost. Our Nation's industrial workers deserve no less, and their need for help is great. The Washington Post said on September 3, 2003, ``In his Labor Day address, the President signaled that the loss of 2.6 million manufacturing jobs during his administration had moved to the top of his list of domestic policy concerns.'' In 1981 Rockford, Illinois, which I have the privilege to represent, had an unemployment rate of 25 percent, the highest in the Nation. Today it is around 11 percent, and I do not want to see a recurrence of 1981. This summer we lost two more factories. We are in danger of seeing our industrial base irreparably harmed. Many of these well- paying jobs are leaving forever. How do we get back the jobs once they are moved to a foreign-producing country? In August, manufacturing employment declined again for the 37th consecutive month. That is a record. That is another 44,000 manufacturing jobs erased from the payroll. For the first time in our Nation's history, we have fewer than 10 percent of our jobs in the manufacturing sector of the labor force. That means fewer employees at any time since 1961 when the U.S. population was 100 million smaller. Manufacturing & Technology News said on May 16, 2003, ``The U.S. manufacturing sector is now producing 1 billion per day less than its own domestic markets demand as a flood of cutthroat-priced imports displaces output and jobs at an unprecedented rate. U.S. industry now produces $10 billion less auto parts each month than our own markets demand, $3 billion less in computer and computer parts, and so on throughout the sector.'' Are not our manufacturers deserving of this modest help that we can give them here today? Mr. Chairman, we need help in the manufacturing sector. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw this amendment because of the rules.

Mr. MANZULLO

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Chairman, we can help our struggling manufacturing sector today by increasing the American content of the equipment purchased under this bill from 50 to 65 percent. This modest increase will cause no real hardship for the District of Columbia. It will be greatly appreciated by our Nation's desperate manufacturers. Today's Washington Post reported that the vast majority of the 2.7 million jobs lost since 2001 are not coming back unless new jobs are created in novel and dynamic ways. We need to be proactive on this bill and make it an engine for job growth by buying from our own producers and getting them hiring again. The people are looking to Congress for action. From the Washington Post September 3, 2003, it quoted, ``In his Labor Day address (The President) signaled that the loss of 2.6 million manufacturing jobs during his administration had moved to the top of his list of domestic policy concerns.'' Our domestic manufacturing base is being hollowed out right before our own eyes. In 1981 Rockford, Illinois, the largest city of the congressional district that I have the pleasure to represent, had an unemployment rate of 25 percent, the highest in the Nation. Today it is 11.3 percent. I do not want to see a recurrence of what happened in 1981. This summer, two more factories closed down, and we are in danger of seeing our industrial base irreparably harmed. The Department of Labor employment report for August is out this morning. Manufacturing employment declined again for the 37th consecutive month. That is a record. In 30 days, our Nation lost 44,000 manufacturing jobs, and for the first time in our Nation's history, we have fewer than 10 percent of our jobs in the manufacturing sector of the labor force. That means fewer employees than at any time since 1961, when the U.S. population was 100 million or smaller. Mr. Chairman, the purpose of this bill is simply to state that, if anything, taxpayers' dollars should be used to buy things that are made in America. The present law today says only 50 percent. This increases it to 65 percent. Why not save our manufacturing jobs with the taxpayers' dollars that are being paid in? There are other forums where this issue may be raised. We have been advised by the Parliamentarian that this particular amendment is not proper to raise at this time. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw this amendment from consideration.

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. MANZULLO

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform you that on House rollcall vote No. 429, the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2004, I intended to vote ``aye'', but inadvertently voted ``nay''. I would like this statement to be included in the appropriate section of the Congressional Record.

Mr. MANZULLO

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman yielding. Just to identify the amendment, it would be the amendment that occurs on .051, so the Clerk would know that to which we refer, dealing with the Small Business Administration Business Loan Program Account. And I would thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) for making sure that this provision would go into the conference report.

Mr. MANZULLO

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Chairman, the purpose of this amendment is to make the Army Corps of Engineers and parts of the Department of Energy and Department of the Interior increase the American content of the parts that they buy from 50 percent to 65 percent. These types of materials are to be used in construction projects that are supplied right here in America and there is no hardship in applying that higher standard. The bulldozers, tractors, dredging equipment, pumps, drills, these items are all made right here in America and, it helps out the struggling manufacturing base. The congressional district that I represent, the biggest city, Rockford, is between 10.5 and 11 percent unemployment. We lost two factories just this past week. It continues over and over again, the erosion of our manufacturing base. Nationwide we are down to about 14.5 million manufacturing jobs. We are losing 57,000 manufacturing jobs each month for the past 34 months. What we are saying here is very simple. When using taxpayers' dollars, use that money to buy products that are made in America, at least up to the 65 percent, to help stabilize our manufacturing base plus also to provide the jobs so people can pay the taxes in order to keep those government agencies going. Mr. Chairman, because of the rules, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

Mr. MANZULLO

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Chairman, I am here today to ask this House again to engage in the struggle that we have to try to return this country to some semblance of a manufacturing base. We are now down to 14.5 million workers engaged in manufacturing. That is about 6 percent that we have lost in the past 2 years. For the past 35 months, we have lost an average of 55,000 manufacturing jobs. We are being bored out. The jobs that we have left in manufacturing, many of them you might as well say we are in the process of assemblers as opposed to manufacturers. What this bill does is simply say as to acquisitions by the Department of Interior, which procured about $2.5 billion last year with regard to new construction, repair buildings, roads, dams, bridges, culverts and other projects, it simply says as opposed to using the 50 percent figure in the existing Buy American Act, that we raise it to 65 percent. This is no hardship to the Department from adapting to a higher percent of American domestic content for its procurements. We owe nothing to any foreign countries to guarantee them the opportunity to make things to put into our precious national parks. The area that I represent, Rockford, Illinois, in 1981 led the Nation in unemployment at 25 percent. Rockford today is at 10.5, 11 percent. Again today I got a letter from another manufacturer closing down a facility saying, sorry, we're moving everything to China. I just wonder how much bleeding, how much hemorrhaging the people of this country can take where there no longer will be any manufacturing jobs left enough to pay the taxes to buy the things that the government wants to buy. This is a simple statement, that the things that we put into our national parks, the things that the Department of Interior buys, the desks, the telephones, the stationery, at least let us use our government procurement to level the playing field and to keep Americans employed. I would implore this House if this amendment were in order, which it is not, but under any circumstances to force our government agencies, at least them, the ones that are using U.S. taxpayers' dollars, to increase the content of the things they buy from 50 to 65 percent. Mr. Chairman, with that statement being made and because of the rules of the House, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be withdrawn.

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. MANZULLO

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Chairman, as the chairman of the Committee on Small Business, it was my opportunity to hold a field hearing for the purpose of gaining the actual facts as to what would happen economically to the people of West Yellowstone, Montana. Mr. Chairman, 1,100 people in the town would suffer a $33 million hit from the snowmobile ban. Why would there be such an effect? Yellowstone National Park is the attraction, not a nearby national forest. Some encourage snowmobilers to redirect their enthusiasm for the sport to nearby national forest land. However, most wintertime visitors at Yellowstone who come from other parts of the country could recreate much closer to home, and they choose to come to Yellowstone because of its unique features. The amendment that is offered is similar to if the Park Service still allowed people to visit the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, but suspended ferry service because of concern over water quality, forcing people to row, canoe, or swim to Liberty Island and still expect the same number of people to visit the Statue of Liberty. The production and use of snowmobiles, if you are interested in an economic recovery, is a $7 billion industry in this country. It creates roughly 75,000 jobs. We are struggling with the highest national unemployment rate in nearly a decade, and if this amendment goes through, it will result in thousands of people losing their jobs in the manufacturing sector, including the people that I represent in Rockford, Illinois, who are at 11 percent unemployment because of the huge hit on manufacturing. And I wonder if the people who want to eliminate snowmobiling in West Yellowstone Park think anything about the manufacturing workers who are struggling to keep their jobs, but they keep their jobs making snowmobile parts. I was there at West Yellowstone Park. I got on one of these machines. In fact, I asked the owner of the machine to turn it on. He said, Congressman, the machine is already on. It was a new 4-stroke machine. Extremely quiet, Mr. Chairman; and there was no smoke. I said, would you turn on a 2-stroke machine, the old snowmobile machine. He turned it on, and the smoke is belching out of there and there is blue smoke, all kinds of noise. That is old technology. That is gone forever. Because the rules say, use the 4-cycle machine because it is whisper quiet. I rode that snowmobile along with my wife, who is a biologist and who understands the environment. We came within 20 feet of an eagle and he just looked at us. We came within 10 feet of a bison; he just looked at us. And a fox came down the road just looking around. Do my colleagues know what happened? As we were in this trail of snowmobiles, as we got to those beautiful animals, the leader raised his arm, almost in reverence, as to the beautiful environment and the animals that were there so we could see them closely and firsthand. This is new technology. There is no smoke. There is no noise. These are people who want to go to the park and examine and see nature as opposed to being in those terrible coaches that make all kinds of noise and make all kinds of tracks, and you cannot even see. In fact, it was very quiet on that snowmobile trail until such time as one of those snowcoaches came along. But there is more to it than that. It is that the 15 to 20 percent drop in recreation would literally destroy the school system of Vermillion, South Dakota, which is where some of these snowmobiles are made. We have to think about the economic impact of such a harsh decision just to ban something. It would put Vermillion, South Dakota, in tremendous distress. And all across the Nation, communities that depend upon taxes from the snowmobile industry would be tremendously impacted. That is what this is about. Mr. Chairman, what this is about is a reasonable rule that the National Park Service developed for the purpose of allowing people of this country and people from around the world to come and visit the natural and pristine beauty of West Yellowstone Park. This is a ``no'' vote. It is a ``no'' vote because it will keep the people employed in West Yellowstone. It is a ``no'' vote because it will keep many people employed in the congressional district that I represent.

Mr. MANZULLO

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) for an opportunity to talk about what has happened to manufacturing in our country and to thank the gentleman for including this amendment in the en bloc amendments. In the latest report put out by the National Association for Manufacturing, the executive summary ends with this startling statement. ``If the U.S. manufacturing base continues to shrink at its present rate and its critical mass is lost, the manufacturing innovation process will shift to other global centers. Once that happens, a decline in U.S. living standards in the future is virtually assured.'' What this amendment does, it requires the State Department to increase the content of the articles, materials and supplies for construction, alteration or repair, to increase it from the 50 percent threshold to 65 percent. It is a modest amendment, but it takes the acquisitions that our government has and uses them to level the playing field so as to assure contracts to help out our precious manufacturing base. We have lost nearly 3 million manufacturing jobs in the past 2 and a half years. Fifty-four thousand manufacturing jobs are lost every month, and that has been continuous for the past 34 months. So we come to the United States Congress and the House of Representatives and we say something has to be done to stop the destruction of manufacturing in this country. This amendment helps out because it increases the content, which assures more manufacturing jobs for the manufacturers of America. Securing America's Future: The Case for a Strong Manufacturing Base U.S. manufacturing is the heart of a significant process that generates economic growth and has produced the highest living standards in history. But today this complex process faces serious domestic and international challenges which, if not overcome, will lead to reduced economic growth and ultimately a decline in living standards for future generations of Americans. Manufacturing's innovation process is the key to past, present and future prosperity and higher living standards. The intricate process starts with an idea for a new product or process, prompting investments in research and development. R&D successes lead to investments in capital equipment and workers, and to ``spillovers'' that benefit manufacturing and other economic sectors. This process not only generates new products and processes, but also leads to well-paying jobs, increased productivity, and competitive pricing. Yet while this process produces wealth and higher living standards, most of it is hidden from view and poorly understood. Manufacturing's innovation process provides enormous benefits for the entire U.S. economy: Grows the Economy--Manufacturing growth spawns more additional economic activities and jobs than any other economic sector. Every $1 of final demand for manufactured goods generates an additional $0.67 in other manufactured products and $0.76 in products and services from nonmanufacturing sectors. Invents the Future--Manufacturers are responsible for almost two-thirds of all private sector R&D--$127 billion in 2002. Spillovers from this R&D benefit other manufacturing and nonmanufacturing firms. R&D spillovers are enhanced by geographic proximity. Generates Productivity Increases--Manufacturing productivity gains are historically higher than those of any other economic sector--over the past two decades, manufacturing averaged twice the annual productivity gains of the rest of the private sector. These gains enable Americans to do more with less, increase our ability to compete, and facilitates higher wages for all employees. Provides More Rewarding Employment--Manufacturing salaries and benefits average $54,000, higher than the average for the total private sector. Two factors in particular attract workers to manufacturing: higher pay and benefits, and opportunities for advanced education and training. Pays the Taxes--Manufacturing has been an important contributor to regional economic growth and tax receipts at all levels of government. During the 1990s, manufacturing corporations paid 30-34 percent of all corporate taxes collected by state and local governments, Social Security and payroll taxes, excise taxes, import and tariff duties, environmental taxes and license taxes. Meanwhile, other nations, recognizing that a strong manufacturing base is the proven path to a world-class economy, have been learning from the American example and are forging their own innovation processes to compete with ours. America's manufacturing innovation process requires a critical mass to generate wealth and higher standards of living. If the U.S. manufacturing base continues to diminish at its present rate that process may deteriorate beyond repair and with it the seedbed of our industrial strength and competitive edge. The most serious challenges to the long-term viability of the U.S. manufacturing base and the innovation process that underlie it are: Loss of Jobs--U.S. manufacturers historically lead the way in an economic expansion, but are still struggling to recover from the recent recession. Since July 2000, manufacturing has lost 2.3 million jobs, many of which have been outsourced or relocated overseas. Manufacturing output has shown no growth since December 2001--the official end of the recession--in the weakest manufacturing recovery since 1919. Loss of Export Potential--Manufacturing exports as a share of GDP have contracted since 1997, reflecting the strong dollar overseas, the impact of the recession on our trading partners, the terrorist attacks in the United States in September 2001, and increased global competition. The U.S. trade deficit has ballooned to historic highs--reflecting an increase in purchases of foreign-made goods, especially from countries which do not freely float their currencies. Investments are Going Elsewhere--U.S. manufacturing's share of capital investment and R&D expenditures, once a dominant feature of our nation's commitment to progress, is diminishing. While U.S. manufacturers conduct two-thirds of private R&D, their R&D spending between 2000 and 2002 grew at only half the pace of the previous decade. Needs More Skilled Workers--Despite the loss of 2.3 million jobs, manufacturing is facing a potential shortfall of highly qualified employees with specific educational backgrounds and skills, especially those specific skills needed to produce manufactured goods. If the skills and knowledge of the American workforce do not improve it will be detrimental to manufacturing's competitive edge and to the prospect for economic growth. Facing Dramatically Rising Costs--The cost of doing business in the United States is rising dramatically, in large measure because of significant costs related to healthcare, litigation, and regulation. As a result, many U.S. manufacturers shut down or move production overseas to countries where they do not face, to the same extent, those kinds of impediments to reducing productions. U.S. manufacturing's innovation process leads to investments in equipment and people, to productivity gains, to beneficial spillovers, and to new and improved products and processes. This intricate process generates economic growth and higher living standards superior to any other economic sector. But serious challenges threaten to undermine the critical mass of manufacturing necessary to maintain a dynamic innovation process. If the U.S. manufacturing base continues to shrink at its present rate and the critical mass is lost, the manufacturing innovation process will shift to other global centers. Once that happens, a decline in U.S. living standards in the future is virtually assured.

Mr. MANZULLO

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concern over H.R. 2330. While I support the intentions of H.R. 2330 to strengthen democratic forces in Burma and hold the Burmese military junta accountable for its human rights violations, I am concerned that this legislation's general ban on trade will adversely affect U.S. small business and economic development in Burma. I am appreciative of the changes made to the original version of this bill such as requiring an annual affirmative vote of Congress to renew the import ban against Burma and changing the standard for the President to waive the ban from the ``national security interest'' to ``national interest'' of the United States. However, these changes will not ultimately solve the problems of my constituent who owns a small business, Chaang Trading Company, in Rockford, Illinois. Chaang Trading Company imports fine, handcrafted cultural goods from Southeast Asia and distributes them nationwide. The import ban in H.R. 2330 would almost certainly destroy this four person company as 80 percent of Chaang's business depends on trade with Burma. Chaang purchases its Burmese products directly from artisan shops, and not from the military government of Burma. These Burmese shops are owned by ordinary citizens and employ ordinary citizens. Therefore, the import ban in this legislation would undermine the provisions in section 8 of H.R. 2330 to support democracy activists in Burma through economic development by actually hurting the very people we are trying to help--small business artisans who have nothing to do with the repressive military government of Burma. I therefore urge my colleagues to be cognizant of the unintended consequences of using trade sanctions as a weapon to change policy in foreign countries. It would be my hope and wish that as the Administration implements this bill that it would take into the account the concerns of small companies like Chaang Trading Company in Rockford so that they can continue to trade with skilled artisans from Burma who have nothing to do with the repressive military government.

Mr. MANZULLO

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Chairman, I withdraw the amendment.

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The purpose of this amendment is to increase the content requirement of the Buy American Act from 50 percent to 65 percent. This is a very simple amendment. It recognizes the fact that America has a tremendous problem with regard to our loss of our manufacturing base. We are down to about 10 percent of our workforce that is actively engaged in manufacturing. Each year that falls by several percentage points. It is massive, 6\1/2\ percent nationwide. And the congressional district that I represent, Rockford, Illinois, is at 11 percent and possibly even more because of the huge manufacturing base. Something has to be done in order to keep what manufacturing we have in this country. So why not take the billions of dollars that we use in procurement by the Federal Government and say, as we look at the stuff that the Federal Government buys, why not at least 65 percent of that be bought in America. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MANZULLO

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This is a good bill. It advances the cause of an independent Office of Advocacy. It enhances the budget. It makes the administration, whether Republican or Democratic, more responsive to the person who occupies the Office of Advocacy; and I would urge my colleagues for a ``yes'' vote. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.