Visclosky Introduces the Fighting for American Jobs Act of 2011

Washington, D.C. —  Today, Congressman Pete Visclosky introduced in the 112th Congress the Fighting for American Jobs Act of 2011 (H.R.1378), which would prohibit businesses that lay off a greater percentage of their United States workers than workers in other countries from receiving any federal assistance. 

“During these difficult economic times, we must fight for every single American job,” said Visclosky. “Companies that lay off American workers and choose to outsource jobs should not be eligible to receive resources from the federal government. This measure would put American jobs for American workers at the forefront of the agenda of any company that receives federal assistance.”

This measure would require businesses that receive publicly-funded grants, loans, and assistance to declare their number of employees, both in the U.S. and abroad, and declare the percentage of their workforce that has been laid off or forced to retire each year, both in the U.S. and abroad. With this information available to the federal government, the measure would then prohibit federal assistance to businesses that laid off a greater percentage of workers in the U.S. than overseas within the previous year.

At this time, the federal government does not keep an accurate accounting of federal subsidies that go to companies that outsource American jobs.