Dr. Ruiz Introduces Legislation to Authorize the SelectUSA Program

Washington, D.C. – This week, Representative Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-Palm Desert) introduced the GROW American Jobs Act of 2019. This legislation will authorize the SelectUSA initiative at the Department of Commerce, which helps facilitate global investment in the United States. More than 7 million jobs in the United States are directly supported by foreign direct investment.

The Department of Commerce hosted the SelectUSA Investment Summit this week, which brought together investors from around the globe to connect with the resources they need to grow businesses and create jobs in the United States. Last year, the SelectUSA Investment Summit facilitated more than $600 million in new projects around the country.

"The United States of America is the best place in the world to do business, and attracting investments that provide for new American jobs is key to competing in our increasingly global economy," said Dr. Ruiz. "That is why I am introducing the GROW American Jobs Act, to ensure that companies around the world know that America is open for business."

Background

SelectUSA was launched in 2011 by President Obama to facilitate job creation in the United States and assist communities in accessing foreign direct investment. SelectUSA serves as a one-stop shop for investors and businesses seeking to invest in the United States, assisting with regulatory questions and government engagement, as well as facilitating local economic development relationships.

In 2018 alone, the SelectUSA program helped generate more than $20 billion worth of investment across 38 states.

In addition to authorizing the program, Dr. Ruiz's bill would include an emphasis on investment in rural areas to support communities ready, willing, and able to support growing investment. More than 95,000 jobs in rural America are supported by foreign direct investment

The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Cartwright (D-PA), Gonzalez (D-TX), and Swalwell (D-CA).