Alabama veteran and business owner Colin Wayne appeared on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends” on Saturday, urging President Joe Biden to prioritize American manufacturing companies.
Wayne, founder and CEO of Redline Steel, believes Biden is missing an opportunity to highlight successful businesses around the country. He was previously selected to represent Alabama at the White House during Made in America Week in 2019.
“If he wants to build back better, it starts with recognizing and honoring domestic companies that are building sustainability for the future,” he said. “To take that away is not a good message sent to business owners.”
Wayne earlier in the week sent Biden a letter outlining his concerns and inviting the president to his 150,000 square foot facility in Tanner, Alabama.
“As a prior service Army Combat Veteran who was nearly killed in Afghanistan on my 3rd tour of duty, father, husband, and business owner, I have some concerns that I would like to address regarding your administration’s ‘Build Back Better’ plan for honoring and supporting the domestic manufacturing companies that are the backbone of this nation,” he wrote. “With today’s current economic state, I believe it’s more important now than ever to showcase America’s own.”
He continued, “I share a concern with fellow American business owners in wanting to know whether you planned to honor manufacturing companies and pay tribute to the hard-working Americans that work every day with the dream of ensuring prosperity for generations to come?”
While serving as a military police officer in Afghanistan, Wayne was severely wounded during a rocket attack on his base in 2012. He took shrapnel in his legs, received nerve damage to his back and was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury.
After returning home, he launched Redline Steel in 2016. The company is a home furnishing retailer specializing in steel-made products. The business currently employs more than 100 people.
In his letter to Biden, Wayne pointed out that he found his company on the idea of “People over Profit” with a focus on using U.S.-based resources. He wrote that it has become more difficult due to the rising cost of materials and excessive reliance on unemployment benefits.
According to Wayne, the cost of steel for his business has increased 265% per pound since Biden took office in January.
“With no signs of decreasing anytime soon, are there any plans to further support domestic manufacturers and rightfully enable businesses to ‘Build Back Better’ as your Administration has continued to promise the American people?” he wrote.
Wayne called for making American manufacturing a priority.
“I want to keep my products in America,” he told Fox News. “I think that’s very important as a veteran who almost died for this nation. It’s important to sustain America’s prosperity. With the cost of how much everything is rapidly increasing, it’s hard to constitute the price points domestically when you can outsource at a fraction of the cost.”
Tim Howe is an owner of Yellowhammer Multimedia
