Washington, D.C.— Congressman John Larson (CT-01) announced today that the NAT GAS Act will be included as part of the House Democrats “Make It In America” agenda for the 112^th Congress. The Make It In America initiative supports job creation today, and in the future, by encouraging businesses to create products and innovate in the US while selling to the world.

“The NAT GAS Act encompasses the basic principle of the ‘Make It In America’ initiative that when we make more products in America, all Americans can make it,” Congressman Larson said. “Legislation such as the NAT GAS Act focuses on tapping into the potential we already have in this country and providing incentives to expand that industry domestically.   Natural gas is abundant, affordable, but most importantly` American. Passing the NAT GAS Act not only puts us on a path to energy independence, it has the potential to create over 600,000 jobs across the country that will last for generations to come.”

This effort builds on House Democrats' actions to create jobs and continue growing the economy and focuses on investing in key priorities while cutting wasteful spending.

The NAT GAS Act is one of many bills that include a range of issues that all help to create an environment where manufacturers and small businesses can expand and create jobs here in the US. 

Since launching the Make It In America agenda in the previous Congress, President Obama has signed six “Make It In America” bills into law:

• U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act: Makes it cheaper for American companies to obtain the materials they need to manufacture goods.
• Protecting American Patents: Helps unclog the backlog of 1.2 million patent applications so innovative ideas can move to market more quickly.
• Preventing Outsourcing: Prevents the outsourcing of U.S. jobs by closing tax loopholes that encourage companies to send U.S. jobs overseas.
• Small Business Jobs Act: Expands much needed lending to millions of small businesses and offers tax incentives to help small businesses grow, hire, and fuel our economy, without adding a dime to the deficit.
• Energy Jobs and Training for Veterans Act: Provides grants for programs to provide on-the-job training, apprenticeship, real experience, and long-term employment in all energy fields.
• COMPETES Act: Establishes innovative technology federal loan guarantees for small- and medium-sized manufacturers and invests in science, technology, engineering, and math education.

The NAT GAS Act enjoys wide bipartisan and bicameral support from over 180 Democrats and Republicans, including the moderate Blue Dog Coalition and President Barack Obama. Additionally, the bill has the support of energy Tycoon, T. Boone Pickens, who includes natural gas as part of the “Pickens Plan.”

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