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JOB CREATION INITIATIVES ADVANCE
Provisions Included in Annual Bill That Funds the Department of Commerce

Washington, D.C. - Legislation moving through the House includes several new initiatives to boost job creation in the United States, according to Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA).

Wolf, chairman of the Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) Appropriations subcommittee, said the annual Department of Commerce spending bill approved today by the subcommittee includes several key provisions from his bipartisan Bring Jobs Back To America Act and targets three critical areas that would foster greater economic growth in the private sector and create jobs:

• Repatriate U.S. jobs now overseas: the bill would create a national manufacturing strategy and establish repatriation task forces within the Department of Commerce to examine incentives and other factors needed to encourage U.S. companies to bring their manufacturing and R&D activities back to the United States.
• Promote increased U.S. exports: the bill fully funds the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate, verify and enforce trade agreements that are free and fair and increases funding for export promotion.
• Ensure an efficient patent process: the bill fully funds the U.S. Patent Office (USPTO) and includes a number of changes at the USPTO to support critical innovation and economic growth.

The FY 2012 appropriations legislation also directs the Department of Commerce to develop a program to assist states in vying for manufacturing and call center jobs against foreign competitors.

Wolf said the fiscal situation facing the nation has required some significant and difficult spending reductions, but despite the subcommittee’s lower allocation from past years, the panel worked to re-orient existing funds to better focus the Commerce Department on these new ideas for job creation.

"Americans see manufacturing as key to economic recovery and there are a number of positive ideas in this bill that will serve as the first step toward restoring the U.S. manufacturing base," Wolf said.  

The bill now moves to the full House Appropriations Committee for consideration expected next week.

More information on the CJS bill including Wolf’s full statement at the subcommittee mark-up is available at wolf.house.gov.