As you can see, I brought a few things with me for this week’s video. A padlock. A pair of boots. A candle. And a pair of socks.
No, we’re not having a yard sale. And these products may not appear to have much in common. But they’re united by three proud words: “Made in America.” They’re manufactured by American workers, in American factories, and shipped to customers here and around the world.
The companies that make these products are part of a hopeful trend: they’re bringing jobs back from overseas. You’ve heard of outsourcing – well, this is insourcing. And in this make or break moment for the middle class and those working to get into the middle class, that’s exactly the kind of commitment to country that we need.
This week, I invited executives from businesses that are insourcing jobs to a forum at the White House. These are CEOs who take pride in hiring people here in America, not just because it’s increasingly the right thing to do for their bottom line, but also because it’s the right thing to do for their workers and for our communities and our country.
I told those CEOs what I’ll tell any business leader: ask yourself what you can do to bring more jobs back to the country that made your success possible. And I’ll make sure you’ve got a government that does everything in its power to help you succeed.
That’s why, in the next few weeks, I will put forward new tax proposals that reward companies that choose to do the right thing by bringing jobs home and investing in America – and eliminate tax breaks for companies that move jobs overseas.
It’s also why on Friday, I called on Congress to help me make government work better for you. Right now, we have a 21st century economy, but we’ve still got a government organized for the 20th century. Over the years, the needs of Americans have changed, but our government has not. In fact, it’s gotten even more complex. And that has to change.