WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today welcomed a Department of Defense decision that will help ensure the military applies made-in-America requirements to athletic shoes.
The decision came after Levin helped enact language in the National Defense Authorization Act for 2014 requiring the department to explore the availability of U.S.-made athletic shoes that comply with the Berry Amendment, which requires that items purchased with federal appropriations be made in the United States whenever possible. Previously, the department had said that no U.S. manufacturer made Berry Amendment-compliant athletic shoes, which military recruits buy using a government allowance or voucher.
In a memo issued Friday, acting Deputy Defense Secretary Christine Fox said she expects U.S.-made athletic shoes to be available “in the near future,” and directed the military services to require that shoe vouchers or allowances be used to purchase U.S.-made shoes as soon as they are available.
“If we can provide U.S.-made athletic shoes to our troops – and I believe we can – we should do so,” Levin said. “I’m pleased that the Defense Department has taken a significant step toward complying with the intent of Congress and the desires of the American people.”
Generally, new recruits are given a one-time allowance or voucher to buy shoes for the running and other physical training that military service requires. The department has not required that recruits buy U.S.-made shoes because it believed no U.S. manufacturer made them, but a number of companies have come forward with plans to manufacturer athletic shoes in the United States.
Fox’s memo requires the services to ensure that once such shoes are available, athletic shoes bought with taxpayer funds be made in America. The new policy allows exceptions when U.S.-made shoes fitting a recruit’s specific foot type or running style are not available.
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Preceding provided by Senator Carl Levin