Cam Cavitt

LANSING – State Rep. Cam Cavitt on Tuesday introduced a bill that will protect construction industries in the state of Michigan and throughout the nation.

House Bill 5789 would require that state projects be completed using construction materials that were produced in the United States, specifically cement, concrete or steel.

“This is an important step in protecting our industries in northeast Michigan,” said Cavitt (R-Cheboygan). “Michigan projects should be completed using American materials. We have the means to do it, but for too long, we’ve been reliant on materials being imported from foreign countries. We need to set our priorities straight. The future of our construction is right here.”

Cavitt went on to describe the shift as necessary.

“This is the responsible decision,” Cavitt said. “To prioritize long-term growth, we must build up the industries that we have here at home. If taxpayers are funding a project, that money should not be going toward materials that are coming from overseas. What we need is domestic stability.”

An exemption would apply if domestic materials caused the cost of the project to increase by more than 25%. Emergency responses would also be exempt.