Donnelly releases statement on dinner with Trump

WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Trump hosted a dinner at the White House Tuesday night for a bipartisan group of six senators, including Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly.

The main topic discussed at the working dinner, in the Blue Room, was reportedly possible revision to the income tax code, along with other issues.

The invited senators included three moderate Democrats - Donnelly, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Manchin of West Virginia - and three senior Republican members of the Senate Finance Committee - Chairman Orrin G. Hatch of Utah, Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania and John Thune of South Dakota.

Sen. Donnelly released the following statement after having dinner with President Trump.

“I had another good conversation with President Trump about my proposal to address the outsourcing of American jobs. I am pleased he remains supportive of my proposal, and I believe that tax reform should include measures to support companies that invest in our workers and penalize companies that ship American jobs to foreign countries. I am hopeful we can work together to encourage domestic investments that benefit American workers.”

Also on Tuesday (Sept. 12), Donnelly announced that he will push for a vote on the End Outsourcing Act, which has been introduced as an amendment to the national defense bill that is currently under consideration on the Senate floor.

Donnelly introduced the End Outsourcing Act in January. The proposed legislation would reward companies investing in American workers and penalize corporations that outsource domestic jobs and factories by taking that into consideration when awarding federal contracts, clawing back incentives, and restricting tax breaks. The bill would also create tax incentives to support companies that relocate foreign jobs to rural and low-income communities in the United States. Nine different companies across Indiana have or are scheduled to outsource 2,200 Hoosier jobs. In July, Carrier laid off 300 workers and plans to lay off hundreds more workers days before Christmas.

In February, in a meeting at the White House, Donnelly discussed the End Outsourcing Act with President Trump, and the President expressed his support for the proposal. In May, at a Senate Banking Committee hearing, Donnelly asked Treasury Secretary Mnuchin about stopping outsourcing and pushed for the President’s support for policies to protect American workers. Donnelly also met with Mnuchin in June to discuss the End Outsourcing Act. He has also discussed the proposed measure with Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen.

Donnelly, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said, “My End Outsourcing Act would help ensure that federal contracts and tax breaks go to companies that employ American workers and that our country incentivizes growth and investment here in the United States and in our communities. To address this issue and its harmful impact on Hoosier and American families, Congress should act, and I hope the Senate will consider my commonsense legislation soon.”