An amendment that would have stripped language that requires the military to buy U.S.-made athletic shoes from the Department of Defense budget was defeated Thursday in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The amendment, proposed by Rep. Mark Sanford, R-S.C., would have withheld the money to make the requirement work from the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017. It failed, 155-265.
U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, R-2nd District, urged colleagues on the House floor to vote down the amendment, according to a news release Thursday afternoon from his office.
Poliquin, as well as Rep. Niki Tsongas, a Massachusetts Democrat, had pushed for language in the defense budget that requires the military to issue recruits U.S.-made running shoes rather than give them vouchers to buy their own shoes. The 1941 Berry Amendment requires the military buy U.S.-made apparel for recruits, but the athletic shoe loophole allowed the vouchers because the military argued that no U.S.-made shoes conformed to the requirements of the amendment or the needs of troops. Poliquin and Tsongas’ language to require the military to buy Berry-conforming shoes was included in both the House and Senate defense bills and passed in both chambers with broad bipartisan support.
The requirement is a boost to Boston-based New Balance shoes, which manufactures shoes at five factories, including three in Maine, in Skowhegan, Norridgewock and Norway. All three factories are in Poliquin’s district.
Poliquin, who wore his own American-made New Balance shoes onto the House Floor, according to the news release, said, “This is a milestone victory in the fight for 900 hardworking Mainers in Norway, Skowhegan and Norridgewock.
“I thank all of my colleagues in the House for voting for American jobs and American workers, despite pressure from powerful special interest groups. This critical language will make sure that our U.S. taxpayer dollars go to U.S. workers and families, not to manufacturers overseas. I will continue to fight tooth and nail through every process until this critical language is signed into law.”
Sanford had argued that the requirement cost the military money because of injuries to military recruits who wear shoes that aren’t adequate for their needs.
New Balance applauded the defeat of the amendment Thursday.
“At New Balance we believe making things in the U.S. matters,” said Matt LeBretton, vice president of public affairs for New Balance. “We are overjoyed that the Congress, with Congressman Poliquin leading the way in the House, agrees. Today is a big day for manufacturing in Maine and throughout the country.”
He said the firm applauds Poliquin “for his doggedness in making sure that American soldiers will train in gear made in America. The efforts of Bruce Poliquin, and the entire Maine delegation, cannot be overstated. These efforts directly translate into more jobs for Maine and beyond.”
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