Contact:  Cass Johnson, 202-822-8025                                            March 15, 2006

  Missy Branson, 202-822-8026

NCTO Supports Legislation Requiring U.S. Department of Homeland Security to Source Textile and Apparel Products from U.S. Manufacturers

Legislation Strengthens National Security and Ensures that the Taxes Paid by Hard-Working Americans Are Spent in Support of U.S. Workers and Companies

Washington, DC) The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) today announced strong support for legislation, H.R. 4946, introduced by Rep. Robin Hayes (R-NC) and 19 original cosponsors, expanding Berry Amendment sourcing requirements to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Jim Chesnutt, Chairman of NCTO, stated, “We want to thank Representative Hayes and other members of the textile caucus for taking a lead role in this important piece of legislation.

Maintaining a textile and apparel manufacturing base is important for national security and it’s important for economic security.  H.R. 4946 is further acknowledgement of this reality and will help preserve the almost 700,000 workers that are still employed in these sectors.  As the clothing worn by those defending our homeland and preserving our security becomes more sophisticated, we do not want the technology used in the development of these products to fall into the hands of those who could use it against us.”

While the Berry Amendment has been applied to the Department of Defense for more than half-a-century, there is no refuting the fact that the Department of Homeland Security has become as important as DoD in our national security efforts and should therefore be subject to the same “Buy America” requirements.”

Chesnutt further noted, “We are proud to support this effort, proud of the men and women who work hard everyday to ensure that our security is preserved, and proud of the employees who provide high-quality products for our security system.  I believe the American taxpayer wants to know that their taxes are being used to preserve American jobs, and this legislation is yet another step in that direction.”     

Background

The Berry Amendment was originally adopted in 1941 and requires the Department of Defense to purchase products deemed essential to U.S. national security, such as textiles, apparel, parachutes, and tents, from U.S. manufacturers with 100 percent U.S. content.  Under current law, the Berry Amendment only applies to the Department of Defense and the U.S. Coast Guard, which is now part of the Department of Homeland Security.

Under trading rules established by the World Trade Organization, the U.S. government can require certain agencies to source products domestically for national security reasons.  Due to commitments made under the WTO government procurement system, the buy American requirements under the Berry Amendment would only apply immediately to the Transportation Security Administration within DHS.  Before Berry Amendment rules could be extended to other agencies within DHS, the U.S. government would need to exempt these agencies from the WTO government procurement agreement.   

H.R. 4946 would also require DHS to notify both the Congress and U.S. industry when it decides to buy textile and apparel products from foreign manufacturers and authorizes training programs to ensure that Berry Amendment rules are being properly applied to contracts for the procurement of textiles and apparel.

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