Overview of the Buy American Requirements Act

Steel was used before the second Industrial Revolution, but was mainly used to make swords and weapons by blacksmiths. Before the second Industrial Revolution Henry Bessemer writes in his autobiography, “At that date there was no steel suitable for structural purposes”. At the time, anything structural, including railways, buildings, ships, and bridges were made out of wood and iron because

The prospects for future profitability of the U.S. steel makers are very unattractive. Unless America can successfully combat China’s enormously, inexpensive, production ability, I do not see any American steel company surviving. China just has too big of a production ability and has the workforce to do it cheaply. Nucor will have to expand in this industry in the United States to survive. If the WTO

Bolted steel construction: this is when the main bulk of the construction is pre made at the workshop then bolted into place on site. This tends to be the preferred methods as it saves time and money as well having the right working conditions.

The Buying and selling, importing and exporting of goods and services, between two or more countries that have no limits or quotas or barriers or unbalanced tariffs is the dictionary definition for a free trade agreement (FTA). There are both advantages and disadvantages attached to FTA’s which is shown in figure 8.0.

The Affordable Care Act established by Barack Obama it is a revolutionary law that was passed to change the healthcare system in America. The affordable care act has many pro and cons. Is the Affordable care a good idea? The Affordable care act was put in place to help maintain healthcare spending cost, reduce the amount of people who are uninsured, create universal healthcare, expanding coverage for young adults and to make prescription drug coverage more affordable for seniors. In the year of 2010 and 2011 over 5.1 million seniors and people with disabilities on Medicare have saved over 3.1 billion on prescription drugs, however this includes a one-time rebate

The Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, was passed in March 2010. This over-1000-page Act implements a number of reforms designed to increase the availability of health care for individuals. The Act created a Health Insurance Marketplace, a universal way to sign up for subsidized health care plans (which are cheaper), though you can only get certain plans from certain places, including an expanded Medicaid. It also creates an incentive to purchase health insurance-if you don 't, you 'll have to pay a fine, which is interpreted by many as a tax. Additionally, the Affordable Care Act requires sizable firms to provide a certain level of health care to all of their employees, with certain specifications. Obamacare also attempts to make health care cheaper for many, by trying to even out the cost for everyone.

“The precondition to freedom is security” (Rand Beers). Security has been the main focus since the start the United States of America. From 9/11 where many say the U.S was tested to see how strong of a nation it was. To many other terrorists attacks, including the Boston Marathon, the United States had to have a plan to keep their boat afloat, a plan which many can call a “Survival plan”. The N.D.A.A, which is short for the National Defense Administration Act. The N.D.A.A is a bill that authorizes appropriations for procurement for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Air Force, and Defense-wide activities, as specified in the funding tables in Division D, Title XLI, of this Act. (https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/4435)

Some of the American companies might be opposed to this “Buy American” act, because there are many companies linked with other nations for the good and supplies. These supplies will be decreasing and more American products will be used. Labor rate is America is higher compared to other nation,

In 1890, the United States Congress passed the first Anti-Trust Law, called the Sherman Act, in an attempt to combat anti trusts and as a “comprehensive charter of economic liberty aimed at preserving free and unfettered competition as the rule of trade.” (The Antitrust Laws). Twenty four years later in 1914, Congress passed two more Anti-Trust Laws: the Federal Trade Commission Act, which created the Federal Trade Commission whose aim is to protect American consumers, and the Clayton act, which fills in any loopholes in the Sherman Act. Ultimately, these three Anti Trust Acts regulate three core problems within the market: restricting the creation of cartels, restricting the “mergers and acquisitions of organizations which could substantially lessen competition”, and prohibit the creation of monopolies in the market (“The Antitrust Laws”).

The Federal Trade Commission was founded by Woodrow Wilson the twenty-eight president of the United States and it was established in September 26, 1914 in Washington D. C. The seal for the Federal Trade Commission was adopted in 1915 and designed by Tiffany and Company. The seal symbolizes many of the values and promote the agency mission. The winged flywheel represents progress and reflects the commitment to protect consumer interests in a world of involving technology. The shield represents the role in defending American consumer interests. And it protects the benefits of robust competition and fighting harm to consumers from unfair deceptive practices. The scales are the traditional of emblem of justice

Buy American Act (BAA) requirements specifically pertain to the use of American products in federal public works. BAA stipulations have been particularly controversial because of their demand that domestic steel and iron be used in public construction projects. Domestic steel and iron must be used in all permanent structures created via federal contracts. Waivers to the Act are available provided "the application of those provisions would be inconsistent with the public interest;" "steel and iron materials/products are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities which are of a satisfactory quality" or when the cost of the final product would be prohibitive, based upon the requirements, versus the materials offered by foreign competitors (23 CFR 635.410 - Buy America requirements, 2011, Vlex). The BAA definition of a "domestic end product"¦requires that the cost of a product's components mined, produced, or manufactured in the U.S. exceeds 50 percent of the cost of all its components" (Zirkelbach 2009:55).

Lightweight construction has been used in building construction for more than thirty-five years. Fire fighters have been dealing with the dangers of this type of construction since it was developed. Lightweight construction is generally considered to be either wood frame or steel building materials, where the roof and/or floor supporting systems are constructed of lightweight prefabricated materials. The main problem with lightweight construction is the decreased load carrying capability and stability of the manufactured members under fire conditions.

The Price-Anderson Act of 1957, cover risk cases of individuals from the general population for individual harm and property harm created by an atomic mischance including a business atomic power plant. The enactment energized private interest in business atomic power by putting a top, or roof, on the aggregate sum of risk each atomic power plant licensee confronted in case of a mishap. After some time, the "point of confinement of obligation" for an atomic mischance has expanded the insurance pool to more than $12 billion.

The driving forces that are at work in the steel industry are foreign steel producers, new opportunities for the uses of steel, and growth in worldwide demand for steel. Although, the U.S. steel industry experienced some relief from the dumping of foreign steel producers, the dumping was still remained a force that was problematic in the steel industry. As seen above, the steel market is primarily controlled by the foreign steel producers. The anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders and suspension agreement, covering imports of hot-rolled steel in, was extended for 5 years to alleviate some of the harm resulting from the influx of steel in the U.S. market. This extension was initiated to help keep the surplus of steel products in the U.S. at bay. This particular driving force can and has adversely affected the steel industry.

The Kellogg-Briand Act was to end all wars agreement. It was signed on August 27, 1928. It was one of several efforts to stifle another World War. In hindsight, it did not work due to the rise of militarism in the 1930s. In the US, private citizens along with US officials made many efforts to guarantee that the US would never be drawn into another war. Disarmament was the biggest effort. Other efforts led by Nicholas Murray Butler and James T. Shotwell were in effort to outlaw war itself. Industrialist Andrew Carnegie established the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in 1910 that promoted internationalism, Butler and Shotwell were members of Carnegie’s faction. Shotwell and Butler assisted and influenced French Minister of Foreign