The constitution grants congress one of the most critical powers to congress and that is the power to create laws. Article 1 section 8 outlines the powers of congress to include the power to tax, declare war, coin money, raise an army and navy, regulate commerce, establish rules of immigration and naturalization, and establish the federal courts and their jurisdictions.
The beginning of section 8 states, "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States." It also says," To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures." These statement mean that congress holds a good portion of
responsibility for the health of the economy.
The end of Article 1 section 8 of the constitution also states, "And To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof." All This grants congress the power to make the laws that are necessary to provide for the general welfare,
and regulate the value of the U.S. dollar.
According to congress.gov, In an effort to support the American economy, last Thursday, H.R.1185 was introduced by the House of Representatives to amend titles 10 and 41 of United States Code in order to provide a contracting preference for contractors that retain American jobs and purchase goods and services in the United States, and for other purposes.
There is currently no text available to read the details of this new proposed law yet however, it seems as though the goal is to sign into law, that when the government chooses contractors to take on projects that are funded by the government, such as maintaining government property, improving bridges and roads, or other services, that they must choose contractors that only purchase their own goods and services in the United States, as well as ones
that will retain American jobs.
If this bill is passed, it would be mandatory for these contractors to be considered before those that purchase goods and services for their business outside of United States.
Of course there are going to be a lot of questions that arise from this newly introduced bill before it gets approved. How will this new law be enforced?
Will there be procedures that are involved in selection of a contractor to do a certain job? Does this mean that everything the business owns must be both sold and manufactured in the United States? Is there a cut off as to how much chosen contractors may
spend on imported goods?
So far the bill has been referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, as well as the House of Armed Services and will likely sit there for quite some time while it gets debated and revised.
According to this week's lesson, most bills usually do not make it past committee before dying out. If the bill makes it past the committees, it must be approved by both the Senate, and House of Representatives, and signed by the president or receive two-thirds vote after veto to become law.
References
"6a. The Powers of Congress." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.
To amend titles 10 and 41, United States Code, to provide a contracting preference for contractors that retain American jobs and purchase goods and services in the United States, and for other purposes. H.R. H.R.1185, 115th Cong. (2017). Print.