A local push for military to wear US sneakers
06.05.11
With that in mind, some members of the delegation are pushing the Pentagon to include athletic footwear along with all the other apparel that must be made in America.
“The reality is that we have American soldiers fighting in our behalf, who represent this country with great pride, dignity and professionalism, and I think are proud to wear American-made products,’’ said Representative Niki Tsongas, a Lowell Democrat who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. About 650 New Balance employees work on research and development as well as manufacturing in her district.
The provision on military apparel, known as the Berry Amendment, dates to 1941, when Congress passed the law to ensure that troops would have a steady supply of uniforms and to keep the nation’s industrial base humming. The law has been revised several times since.
Until recently, the armed services did buy training shoes for soldiers. Since 2009 most branches have been providing military members with a voucher to buy shoes themselves, according to a letter that a Pentagon official wrote to New Balance.
Source: Boston Globe