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NEMA Expands Make It American™ Certification to Connected Building Systems and Controls

William Attardi on August 8, 2025

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has expanded its Make It American™ certification program to include a new product specification for connected building systems and equipment. These integrated hardware and software platforms, such as HVAC, building automation, and security platforms, are essential technologies for optimizing infrastructure resiliency and performance in the built environment.  NEMA’s Make It American program supports domestic manufacturing by helping companies demonstrate that their manufacturing processes, facilities, and supply chain management systems have undergone rigorous third-party expert audits to meet Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) domestic content rules – providing greater certainty and confidence to manufacturers, government agencies, and procurement officials seeking to source materials with enhanced levels of U.S.-manufactured content.  For more information about NEMA’s Make It American program and the Make It American BABA Registry of certified companies and products, visit here.  NEMA Expands Make It American™ Certification to Connected Building Systems and Controls  – NEMA

NEMA Make It American™ BABA Resource Center

William Attardi on April 30, 2025

NEMA has developed the Make It American Program to help members confidently offer BABA-compliant products to the market. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law —a once in a generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure—included a provision known as the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act, with the intent of ensuring American tax dollars are spent supporting America’s workers, communities, and businesses. This policy, commonly referred to as “BABA”, sets stringent domestic content requirementsfor iron and steel products, manufactured products, and construction materials in all infrastructure projects receiving federal funding with the goal of increasing domestic manufacturing.  Make It American™ – NEMA

Remembering the Solemn Purpose of Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the last Monday in May to honor and mourn U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces. The holiday traces its roots to the years immediately following the American Civil War (1861–1865), which caused massive casualties—roughly 620,000 soldiers dead, about 2% of the U.S. population at the time. Communities across the North and South began spontaneously decorating the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, wreaths, and flags, a practice that gave rise to the original name: Decoration Day. On May 5, 1868, Major General John A. Logan, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)—a powerful Union veterans’ organization—issued General Order No. 11. This proclaimed May 30, 1868, as a nationwide “Decoration Day” to honor those who died in the Civil War. After World War I, the holiday expanded to honor all American service members who died in any war, not just the Civil War.  In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act to create more three-day weekends for federal employees. This moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May, effective in 1971, when it was also officially named “Memorial Day.” As one 1868 quote put it: “That Nation which respects and honors its dead, shall ever be respected and honored itself.”