The White House has released new proposals designed to boost current “Buy American” provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). President Biden announced the new guidance in this week’s state of the union address.
“Tonight, I’m also announcing new standards to require all construction materials used in federal infrastructure projects to be made in America. American-made lumber, glass, drywall, and fiber optic cables. And on my watch, American roads, American bridges, and American highways will be made with American products.” …President Joe Biden
The new proposed guidance to include additional construction materials, including paint and stain, bricks, and engineered wood products, has been released by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and is open to public comment for the next 30 days.
Reuters reports that the new proposal is designed to provide consistency in the Buy American guidance.
“The proposed guidance “will strengthen implementation of domestic content standards, while also improving federal financial assistance management, consistency, transparency, and oversight,” said Livia Shmavonian, who runs a White House office aimed at spurring U.S. government purchases of more American goods.
The proposed OMB guidance sets standards to ensure manufacturing processes for construction material occur in the United States, including standards for “plastic and polymer-based products, glass (including optic glass), lumber, and drywall,” Shmavonian added.” …Reuters
IIJA Progress Updated
To date, the Biden Administration reports that nearly $200 billion in funding and over 20,000 projects or awards in 4,500 communities have been delivered.
“This includes launching over 3,700 bridge repair and replacement projects across the country, beginning repair of over 69,000 miles of roadway, awarding funds for over 3,000 new clean transit and school buses, increasing enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program to over 16 million households, and approving state plans for water funding, EV charging networks and high-speed internet deployment.” …White House Briefing Sheet (February 8)
A state-by-state map provides details of ongoing IIJA projects throughout the nation.
Comments on the Buy American proposal must be submitted electronically before the comment closing date to regulations.gov.
**UPDATED (2/22) to include March 13th Comment Closing Date and Federal Register listing.