Bill ensures DHS S&T funds back domestically-produced inventions

U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) recently introduced the Invent Here, Make Here for Homeland Security Act, which ensures Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) funds support inventions produced in the United States.

The legislation outlines that products must be manufactured in the United States while acknowledging waivers allowing for manufacturing to occur overseas.

Per the bill, any waivers are required to be issued in accordance with the new Buy America reporting requirements passed in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“When the government spends American taxpayer money on inventing a product, it’s common sense that product should be made in America and not by our adversaries,” said Portman, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “This bipartisan legislation will work in accordance with the Buy America reporting requirements I authored in the bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act to ensure that coming infrastructure projects across America use American-made iron, steel, and manufactured products.”

The bill would also prohibit taxpayer-funded inventions from being manufactured in foreign countries like China, North Korea, Iran, or Russia.

“To me, it is simple: If American taxpayers fund the research that leads to an invention, American manufacturers should be making the products,” Baldwin said. “Building on our Buy America standards we championed in the bipartisan infrastructure legislation, our Invent Here, Make Here Act will create and sustain good paying jobs here at home and ensure that the high-tech products are made in America.”