Bipartisan Push to Bring 'Made in USA' Manufacturing Back for Critical Supplies

In a rare display of bipartisan unity, Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) have teamed up to push for a bold new initiative: bringing the manufacturing of critical supplies back to American soil. Their Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act calls on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to identify products not currently made in the U.S. and assess the potential for producing them domestically, with a focus on underserved rural areas and industrial parks.

This move comes as a response to America’s overreliance on foreign supply chains, a vulnerability exposed by global disruptions in recent years. The senators aim to bolster national security and economic resilience by ensuring key materials—think pharmaceuticals or infrastructure components—are sourced right here at home. The Commerce Department has 18 months to deliver a report pinpointing supply chain gaps and proposing solutions to make 'Made in USA' a reality again.

Ernst, a fierce advocate for reducing dependence on foreign adversaries like China, emphasized the national security angle. “We can’t afford to rely on halfway-across-the-world imports for critical goods,” she said, highlighting her ongoing efforts to bring pharmaceutical production stateside. Blunt Rochester echoed the sentiment, noting that onshoring manufacturing not only strengthens supply chains but also breathes life into local economies, particularly in rural regions like those in Iowa and Delaware.

Delaware’s industrial boom, with companies like Amazon flocking to its low-tax environment, and Iowa’s vast rural landscapes make both states prime candidates for new manufacturing hubs. This initiative isn’t just about economics—it’s about reclaiming America’s industrial independence and securing its future.