New Haven textile maker Uretek says it’s hoping Congress will pass legislation mandating that taxpayer-funded footwear vouchers given to U.S. military members be used to purchase shoes made in the United States.
Uretek, which employs 160 people, said in a statement today that such a change would help its military business rebound after suffering of late due to federal budget and sequestration cuts.
The company believes the military has been violating the 1941 Berry Amendment, which requires the DOD to purchase certain products from domestic manufacturers.
Massachusetts-based New Balance has lobbied for action on the topic for the past several years, according to Bloomberg. Uretek supplies synthetic leather to New Balance that it uses for the upper parts of its shoes.
The House of Representatives has already approved H.R. 2955, known as the “American Shoes for American Servicemembers Act,” which would clarify that the Berry Amendment has and continues to apply to footwear purchases.
It would need approval from the Senate and President Obama to become law.
