On the recordApril 28, 2010
I rise today in support of this amendment. This is a bipartisan effort to ensure that our troops are outfitted with American-made goods as much as possible. Under current policy, clothing items that soldiers purchase with DOD-issued cash allowances are not subject to the Berry amendment. Our amendment asks GAO to determine whether U.S. companies make enough of these cash-allowance items to meet the demands of our troops. DOD will report to Congress on GAO's findings and indicate whether or not they will extend the Berry amendment to any of these American-made products. This amendment supports United States businesses. This amendment protects and creates American jobs. And this amendment makes sure that, wherever possible, our troops are outfitted with goods made with pride in the U.S.A. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment.
