Politics & Government
Congressman Visits Local Jewelry Manufacturer
U.S. Rep. James Langevin discusses the challenges facing American businesses with Anthony and Matt Giarrusso of AG&G Manufacturing.
Capping off a day of visits to various groups in Johnston on March 28, U.S. Rep. James Langevin made his final stop at Inc., a jewelry company owned by the Giarrusso family.
Two of the five brothers in the family, Matt and Angelo, greeted the Congressman and Mayor Joseph M. Polisena and took them on a tour of the 26,000-square-foot facility on Mill Street. Angelo explained that the day — already special because of Langevin's visit — was all the more meaningful, since it was 45 years ago to the day that the Giarrussos arrived in America from Vieste, Italy.
And on Friday, AG&G will celebrate 25 years in business, Angelo added.
Find out what's happening in Johnstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"You're really a Rhode Island success story," Langevin said.
During the tour, Langevin learned about the process of designing and manufacturing new pieces — "I'm really getting an education," he said at one point — and about the challenges facing the brothers as they battle foreign competition.
Find out what's happening in Johnstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
After Angelo noted that China is set to reduce its corporate tax rate in April, Langevin said he supports lowering the 35-percent corporate rate in America.
"We've got to compete, or we're going to just get killed," Langevin explained. "It's important to hear it from someone like you, who's on the front lines in a very competitive industry."
And while Matt and Angelo agreed that AG&G currently holds an edge in the market, its design department and customer service, they acknowledged that it can't last without some kind of help.
"There are so many businesses that have left," Matt explained. "It would be nice to try to bring people back."
"That's not going to happen until the corporate tax goes down," Angelo added.
Langevin said he would bring those concerns back to Washington, D.C., and further examine the Chinese move to drop its corporate tax rate.
"We're trying to leave no stone unturned" in finding ways to help small businesses, he said.
March 28 was the Congressman's last day in Rhode Island before a scheduled return to Washington the next day. Prior to his visit to AG&G, Langevin delivered an anti-bullying message to students at and stopped by the for lunch.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.