The Honorable James Simpson
Administrator
Federal Transit Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, DC 20590
Re: Notice of Buy America Waiver Request by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority for Final Assembly of Rail Rolling Stock Docket No. FTA-2008-0047
Dear Administrator Simpson:
On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) I urge the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to reject the request for a waiver of Buy America requirements that has been made by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) for a pending passenger locomotive order. This waiver would allow Vossloh Espana S.A. (Vossloh) to manufacture and assemble two prototype locomotives in Spain despite Buy America requirements that final assembly be conducted in the U.S. It is relevant that MotivePower Inc. has submitted a bid to MBTA to provide the needed locomotives without a Buy America waiver, and in fact will conduct final assembly in Boise, Idaho and comply with all other U.S. content requirements.
Buy America provisions have been included in the FTA’s statute to ensure, to the extent possible, taxpayer funds are used to procure products made by U.S. workers. While exemptions are permitted, we see no credible reason why the public interest is served by granting this specific waiver request. To the contrary, the practical effect of this exemption would be to use federal funds to outsource a significant number of skilled American jobs spread across the country, including the jobs of workers represented by TTD member unions.
Vossloh and the MBTA state that this waiver will enable Vossloh to submit a competitive bid based on price and schedule. Putting aside the accuracy of that claim, allowing foreign manufacture and assembly in violation of the statutory requirements just so a foreign company can compete, is simply not the type of rationale that should qualify as an exemption. And in this difficult economic environment, putting additional pressure on U.S. manufacturers makes absolutely no sense.
Our member unions in the rail and transit sectors appreciate the need to ensure their employers have the latest in locomotive technologies that can meet and exceed customer demand and safety. But in this instance, there is a U.S.-based provider prepared to deliver the requested locomotives and comply with their Buy America obligations under the statute.
This requested waiver would also accelerate existing pressures on our domestic industry and contribute to a further loss of American jobs, skills and know-how in years to come. This waiver would open the door to unfair foreign competition and ultimately the erosion of yet another American manufacturing sector. It would be entirely inappropriate for FTA to find that it is in the “public interest” for MBTA to use federal funds when this would be the certain result.
FTA must assure compliance with existing Buy America rules, and not grant the waiver requested by the MBTA. Thank you for your consideration of our views.
Sincerely,
Edward Wytkind
President
Comments on Buy America Waiver Request from MBTA Docket No. FTA-2008-0047