WASHINGTON, September, 10, 2024 – The United States Footwear Manufacturers Association is pleased to join a coalition of domestic manufacturers in calling on Congress to pass legislation requiring all military personnel be equipped with U.S.-produced footwear.
The House version of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act includes the bipartisan Better Outfitting Our Troops, or BOOTS, Act. It is aimed at halting the sale of foreign and poorly made footwear on military installations despite the military restrictions on foreign-produced gear enshrined in the Berry Amendment.
“This non-Berry Amendment-compliant footwear is heavily reliant on a Chinese supply chain and meets no performance standards,” the coalition wrote in a letter to the Democratic and Republican leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. “U.S.-made combat boots have to meet military specifications that have been created to ensure the footwear of the warfighter will hold up and perform in combat environments.”
Yet current Army and Air Force uniform regulations allow soldiers to buy non-compliant, foreign-made combat boots if they meet appearance standards.
The growing trend, resulting in over 750,000 pairs of foreign-made boots being sold to Army and Air Force personnel each year, has further undermined the domestic footwear industrial base and its ability to outfit the military.
“Our country is very close to losing the most basic capability needed by those who fight – the ability to build the combat boots needed that withstands the rigors of an austere environment,” the coalition wrote. “The growing market share of foreign-made boots is resulting in a significant decline in demand from American factories, resulting in a reduction in domestic manufacturing capability to the point where there is a complete lack of surge capacity for combat footwear in the United States.”
The House version of the NDAA would require the Department of Defense to issue regulations that ensure all boots are Berry Amendment-compliant and meet the highest quality and performance standards. This would bring the Army and Air Force in line with the regulations governing the Navy and the Marine Corps.
“This legislation is long overdue if we are going to close this loophole that undermines the Berry Amendment and erodes our capacity to outfit our men and women in uniform with the best, American-made gear possible,” said USFMA Executive Director Bill McCann. “USFMA is proud to be playing a leading role in advocating for this critical legislation to strengthen our domestic industrial base and national preparedness.”
Said Karlee Popken, USFMA’s policy director: “USFMA’s support for the BOOTS Act is part of our broader campaign to engage with Congress on domestic manufacturing issues. Earlier this year, USFMA joined in writing to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin highlighting the issue of non-Berry Amendment complaint uniforms in the Services.”
“USFMA will continue to make sure those in DC understand the importance of manufacturing and the need for robust supply chains and policies supporting the domestic footwear industry,” she added.
The coalition urged Congress to ensure that the BOOTS Act be included in the final NDAA when the House and Senate agree on a compromise version of the annual defense policy bill later this year.
The letter was also signed by A&E, LLC, Mount Holly, NC; Belleville Boot Co., Belleville, IL; Emtex Global, Peabody, MA; Glacial Lakes Rubber and Plastics, Watertown, SD; Grassland Stamping, Stratford, WI; McRae Footwear, Mt. Gilead, NC; Meramec, Sullivan, MO; New Balance Athletics, Inc., Boston, MA; PolyLabs, Lewiston, ME; SX Industries, Stougton, MA; Vibram Corporation, North Brookfield, MA; W.L. Gore and Associates, Newark, DE; Worthen Industries, Nashua, NH; YKK USA, Macon, GA; American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA); National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO); and Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition (WPRC).
The United States Footwear Manufacturers Association (USFMA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) association founded in 1986 to grow, protect and enhance the footwear industry’s manufacturing base in the United States.