New Spending Rule

The White House issued a measure on April 8. It has to do with infrastructure. That means things like roads, bridges, and high-speed Internet. Society needs them in order to function smoothly. The measure requires new infrastructure projects to purchase materials made in the United States. This would ensure that money spent on construction goes to U.S. factories and workers.

“From day 1, every action I’ve taken to rebuild our economy has been guided by one principle: made in America,” President Joe Biden said. He spoke in Greensboro, North Carolina, on April 14.

The measure directs how money from the $1 trillion infrastructure law can be spent. That law was passed by the U.S. Congress in November. The measure says the money can be spent if all the materials, like iron and steel, are produced in the U.S. The president hopes to reduce dependence on materials from other countries and to create jobs.

Exceptions to the new rule will be allowed. The government may set aside the requirement if there is not enough U.S.-made material available. It can also waive the requirement if the price of materials increases a project’s cost by more than 25%.

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