Chairman Hammen
Health and Government Operations Committee
Room 241
House Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401
Dear Chairman Hammen:
I am writing to express my support for SB432 pertaining to government procurement and American products. Our company applauds the bill’s goals and urges its swift passage.
As a businessperson and taxpayer, I believe that the State of Maryland should be required to provide a preference for the procurement of products made first in-state and then in the United States. The positive economic benefits of SB342 will be felt by businesses, especially small and mid-sized companies, across Maryland.
Studies have shown that every $55,000 spent in procurement by a State agency generates one job. When this is coupled with a 33% multiplier effect, the benefits become even more significant. With the state’s system annually procuring $6 Billion worth of goods, there are potentially hundreds of jobs that could be created for Maryland residents through passage of SB432.
Taxpayer dollars should be used, wherever feasible, to procure goods and products of equal or higher quality from in-state vendors. The stimulative effect of these purchases will help create jobs, reduce unemployment, increase capital borrowing, and encourage businesses here in Maryland to expand their operations. Why should taxpayer funds be used to purchase foreign-made goods when similarly high quality finished and
component part products are available here at home? Maryland products will go toe to toe with any foreign-made product.
The argument that we live in a global economy and thus that SB432 is unnecessary fails to acknowledge that all of our major international competitors have policies that actively favor domestically made goods. These nations provide extensive subsidies, protect key industries, and bias their purchasing to favor domestic products. In addition, we believe that SB432 will help upgrade the work skills critical to keeping innovation alive in
America.
