Dear NYS Senate and Assembly,

Thank you for supporting "Buy American" legislation in your one house budgets. I do my best to Buy American, and I want New York to do the same with my money. Polling shows that four out of five voters favor spending state and federal tax dollars on American-made goods whenever possible.

I was disappointed to learn that state government agencies and authorities are not required to consider spending my tax dollars on American-made products. However, I am encouraged by your inclusion of "Buy American" in your budget. I believe our state should pass strong "Buy American" preferences to help create good paying jobs and keep our tax dollars here at home.

It makes sense to support companies that invest in their U.S. operations, modernize plants to make them safer and more efficient, and create good jobs for American workers. It makes no sense for our state government to send my hard-earned tax dollars overseas where many foreign companies don't adhere to labor or environmental standards required of American and New York manufactures.

Thank you for including "Buy American" preferences in the New York Budget negotiation. Please keep fighting for it to support jobs here at home and stop sending our tax dollars abroad.