James Traficant: “this amendment is a straight limitation. None of the funds appropriated in the act may be made available to any person…”

“this amendment is a straight limitation. None of the funds appropriated in the act may be made available to any person or entity that has violated the Buy American Act. Mr. Chairman, the House should pay attention to something that concerns me, and the appropriators especially. A notice has been posted that the windows of the Capitol will have installed a protective covering because of the September 11 terrorist attack and the increased focus on terrorism. The company that made the product that will be installed on the Capitol windows is from Belgium. One of the big contracts given for the rebuilding of the Pentagon is to a French company; and I might remind Members when we had a problem with Khadafi, France would not let us use their air space or their airports. Our military has bought boots from China, and probably most of the flags Members see waving throughout America as a symbol of American patriotism were made in Chinese sweatshops. Mr. Chairman, the amendment makes sense. But I believe the leaders of the Committee on Appropriations should start looking at procurement. We certainly do not have to be an isolationist Nation or protectionist Nation; but on military procurement, especially, I think we should almost demand American products in the end that someday we may face a nation who we depend on for a product that may not be all that friendly to us.”