Union members from around the Detroit metro area rallied Tuesday in support of the Bring Jobs Home Act (S. 2884), a common sense bill authored by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)  that would incentivize American companies to bring jobs back to America from overseas. The bill would also close tax loopholes that reward corporations that continue to outsource in the pursuit of outsized corporate profits.

The rally, held at the Detroit Port, featured members from the Detroit Metro AFL-CIO and United Steelworkers (USW). Participants emphasized the importance of manufacturing in the American economy and called on Stabenow's colleagues in Washington to adopt policies to provide businesses with greater opportunities to thrive at home. 

Jay McMurran, USW District 2 rapid response and political coordinator said:

I want to thank Sen. Stabenow for introducing this critical job creation legislation. We need all of her colleagues in Washington to put aside partisan bickering and think of what is best for the middle class. The Bring Jobs Home Act is an important step towards putting America back to work.

The public display of support for the Bring Jobs Home Act sent a clear signal to legislators in Washington, D.C., that Michigan workers are mobilized behind the plan that will create jobs, strengthen the national economy and re-establish Michigan as a national leader in manufacturing.

Stabenow told the crowd, "We should be rewarding companies that hire American workers, not those that ship our jobs overseas."

I wrote the Bring Jobs Home Act to fight outsourcing and help strengthen the middle class. The time is now for my Republican colleagues to stop stonewalling this common sense legislation and do what’s right for the American people.

Marcus Barragan, a member of USW Local 1299 who works at U.S. Steel in Ecorse, Mich., said:

Michigan manufacturing know-how is second to none. If the laws were fair, we could be exporting high quality products, not family-sustaining jobs.

Stabenow’s Bring Jobs Home Act would incentivize companies that bring jobs and business activities back to the United States by allowing companies to qualify for a tax credit equal to 20 percent of the cost associated with bringing jobs and business activity back to the United States.

After the July 4 recess, Congress will take up the Bring Jobs Home Act (S. 2884), which will cut taxes for U.S. companies that move jobs and business operations to the United States and end tax loopholes that reward companies that ship jobs overseas. Working families also are pushing for a call center bill that would bar companies that send call center jobs overseas from receiving federal grants and tax breaks.

Along with building support for the Bring Jobs Home Act and the call center bill and for stopping currency manipulation, the AFL-CIO is calling on lawmakers to:

• Tax the overseas income of U.S. corporations the same way we tax their domestic income, so they can no longer lower their tax bill by shifting income and jobs overseas; and 
• Push for fair trade policies that benefit workers—not just multinational corporations.

Working families around the country are mobilizing to build support for the Bring Jobs Home Act (S. 2884). Click here to find an event near you. You can also Text JOBS to 235246 to get info and action alerts to help bring America's jobs home. (Message and data rates may apply.)