BuyAmerican.gov Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-732
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2021-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Buy American requirements
Congressional oversight
Free trade and trade barriers
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Manufacturing
Public contracts and procurement
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-11
text: 

BuyAmerican.gov Act of 2021

 
This bill directs the President and specified federal agencies to take steps to increase transparency and limit the use of waivers of Buy American laws. Generally, Buy American requires agencies to procure domestic goods.
 
The bill requires (1) the Department of Commerce to report periodically to Congress and the President on the implementation of, and compliance with, Buy American laws; (2) Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to assess the impacts of all U.S. free trade agreements and the World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement on the operation of such laws; and (3) the General Services Administration (GSA) to establish a free, publicly available BuyAmerican.gov website. Public interest waivers from Buy American laws shall be construed to ensure the maximum utilization of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States.
 
The President shall develop a mechanism to collect information on requests to waive Buy American laws and other domestic content restrictions for purposes of providing early notice to possible waivers via the website. Executive agencies shall make information concerning the intention to issue a waiver or exception in connection with a federal procurement available to the GSA at least 20 days prior to waiving a Buy American law.
 
The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress within two years of this bill's enactment describing the bill's implementation.

action_date: 2022-12-05
text: 

BuyAmerican.gov Act of 2021

 
This bill establishes requirements related to federal agencies granting waivers to Buy American laws (generally, laws that require or encourage the purchase of domestic goods in federal contracts and other activities) and addresses related issues.
 
For example, before granting such a waiver, the agency must, with some exceptions, submit a request with certain information about the waiver to the General Services Administration, which shall make the request available for public comment for at least 15 days.
 

 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-12-05
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 586.
action_date: 2022-12-05
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 117-227.
action_date: 2022-12-05
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 117-227.
action_date: 2021-05-12
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2021-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate