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Yesterday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank announced the federal agencies will partner to encourage the creation of domestic manufacturing jobs and opportunities for U.S. suppliers through transportation investments.

Under the agreement, the U.S. Commerce Department’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) will help to ensure manufacturers meet the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) strict “Buy America” and “Buy American” standards, USDOT officials said in a prepared statement.

In addition, the Federal Railroad Administration will team up with MEP to connect American suppliers with opportunities created by the Obama administration’s investment in high-speed rail, including track and station construction, with the development of next-generation trains.

MEP will help USDOT to “guarantee American companies and workers receive benefits from public investments like the upcoming $782 million order for domestically-built passenger trains” for California, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Indiana and Iowa.