‘Buy American’ provision makes it into 2017 DoD bill

U.S. Sen. Angus King successfully added a provision to the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act that he and Sen. Susan Collins have been pushing for that would require the Department of Defense to comply with the Berry Amendment by providing initial entry service members with American-made athlete shoes upon arrival at basic training.

The provision, if made law, would support and protect domestic manufacturing jobs, including the 900 employees in Maine that work for the Boston-based footwear company New Balance, which has 1,400 employees making footwear at five factories in New England.

“This is a monumental victory for New Balance and for Maine,” said Matt LeBretton, vice president of public affairs for New Balance in a statement. “Without the outstanding leadership of Sen. King and Sen. Collins, this simply would not have been possible. At the end of the day, this will mean jobs for Maine people.”

According to a release from King’s office, the DoD hasn’t previously issued new recruits athletic footwear that is compliant with the Berry Amendment, though it issues similar Berry compliant items such as combat boots and service uniforms. Under the King provision in the NDAA, the DoD would be required to treat athletic footwear like other uniform items.

“This amendment is a huge victory for the hardworking men and women in Skowhegan, Norridgewock and Norway who have worked day in and day out to make some of the best, highest-quality athletic shoes available,” King said in a statement. “Our government should be doing all it can to advance policies that support them – not ship their jobs overseas. By requiring the Pentagon to bring its practices in line with the law, this amendment will ensure that those who serve our country have the finest American-made footwear available and support good jobs here in Maine and across the country.”