WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) wrote to President Trump following recent comments the President made on a Toledo radio station about the importance of bringing back auto manufacturing jobs to the U.S. and building cars domestically. Brown is calling on President Trump to put his words into action by supporting Brown’s American Cars, American Jobs Act, which an expert witness said would ‘absolutely’ help American autoworkers and which the Toledo Blade editorialized  would “put America and American workers first.” 

“In light of your recent comments on WSPD Toledo’s Scott Sands Show, I write to bring your attention once again to my American Cars, American Jobs Act, legislation I reintroduced last year to grow consumer demand for domestically manufactured cars, level the playing field for American autoworkers and reverse some of the damage from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This legislation presents a real solution to many of the concerns you expressed during your interview. If you are serious about protecting American manufacturing jobs, I urge you to work with me to quickly get the American Cars, American Jobs Act enacted,” Brown wrote.

During an interview with WSPD radio host Scott Sands, the President said:

“If we’ve learned one thing from this, and I think it’s so important Scott, it’s that we have to stop with these stupid chains where we’re taking pieces of something. You make a car and it comes from seven different countries. We should make our own product…”

Brown’s bill would benefit Ohio companies and workers throughout the auto supply chain. The legislation would put U.S.-made cars on equal footing with foreign-made vehicles and update the tax code to remove incentives for auto companies to offshore jobs.

Brown’s American Cars, American Jobs Act would:

  • Give customers a $3,500 discount when they buy cars made in America and a $4,500 discount if that American car is electric or a plug-in hybrid;
  • and revoke a special GOP tax cut on overseas profits for auto manufacturers that ship jobs overseas. The tax cut was included in President Trump’s tax bill.

Nearly 100 vehicles, including all passenger vehicles made in Ohio, qualify for the $3500 rebate based on the 2018 American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA) list. Six of the nine U.S.-manufactured electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles on the AALA list qualify for the $4500 rebate.

Brown spoke with President Trump in November 2018 and asked him to support his American Cars, American Jobs Act, and the President said he liked the bill. Brown’s office sent a copy of the bill to the White House, but no action was taken by the President. While Brown has called on President Trump to support his legislation in the past and called on the President to do more to protect autoworkers like those who were laid off in Lordstown, President Trump has repeatedly failed to act.  

A copy of Brown’s letter to President Trump can be found HERE and below.

Dear President Trump,

In light of your recent comments on WSPD Toledo’s Scott Sands Show, I write to bring your attention once again to my American Cars, American Jobs Act, legislation I reintroduced last year to grow consumer demand for domestically manufactured cars, level the playing field for American autoworkers and reverse some of the damage from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This legislation presents a real solution to many of the concerns you expressed during your interview. If you are serious about protecting American manufacturing jobs, I urge you to work with me to quickly get the American Cars, American Jobs Act enacted.

On Friday, May 15, 2020, in response to a question from host Scott Sands regarding your plans for returning manufacturing jobs to the United States, you responded by saying, “I probably got elected because of that...we should make our own product.” I agree Mr. President, your promise to return manufacturing jobs back to the Ohio played a key role in your election. However, you have failed to keep that promise and instead you have incentivized companies to offshore good-paying American jobs. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that you and Congressional Republicans championed, gave companies like General Motors (GM), a 50 percent tax coupon for laying off thousands of Lordstown workers and shifting production to Mexico.

To help these Lordstown workers and all autoworkers, I introduced the American Cars, American Jobs Act. The bill would incentivize the domestic production of cars by: 1) eliminating the tax incentive for automakers to ship jobs overseas and 2) offering a $4,500 rebate to customers who purchase or lease a new American-made passenger or electric vehicle. The Toledo Blade editorialized that the bill would “put America and American workers first.”

Mr. President, it is evident that the Wall Street over worker policies advocated by your Administration and enacted through your tax bill have harmed the American jobs you promised to protect. As a result, it imperative that you support the American Cars, American Jobs Act to help reverse some of the damage done to American workers. I urge that you express your support for the bill, and work with me to get it enacted.

Sincerely,

 

 

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