US steel for public projects backed

TALLAHASSEE — Florida House members are moving forward with a proposal that would require state and local government agencies to use U.S.-produced iron and steel in public works projects.

The House Local Administration & Veterans Affairs Subcommittee last week unanimously approved the bill (HB 619), filed by Rep. Anthony Rodriguez, R-Miami. It was backed last week by the House Government Operations Subcommittee.

The bill would include some exceptions, such as situations in which using U.S.-produced iron and steel would increase costs of projects by more than 20%. Rodriguez described the measure as a “Buy American” bill.

But the proposal faces opposition from the conservative group Americans for Prosperity-Florida, which contends it could drive up costs of projects.