The U.S. Industrial & Narrow Fabrics Institute (USINFI), the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) and the Warrior Protection & Readiness Coalition (WPRC) have released statements expressing strong support for the newly formed bipartisan Berry Amendment Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The caucus, co-chaired by U.S. Reps. Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.) and Don Davis (D-N.C.), will support policies that help preserve, improve and expand the federal government’s procurement of U.S.-made textile and apparel products for the Department of Defense (DOD).
The Berry Amendment (10 USC 2533a) was established in the late 1930s and requires the DOD to buy military textiles made with 100% U.S. content and labor. As such, the Berry Amendment governs the annual purchase of $1.8 billion of high-tech textile materials and uniforms for the U.S. military. These purchases cover over 8,000 different military textile items, often including advanced technical, industrial and narrow yarns and fabrics. For example, American-made technical yarns and fabrics are used to construct critical items such as anti-ballistic protective vests, chem-bio hazard uniforms, extreme cold weather gear, tents and camouflage coverings.
Industry support
Mark Harries, chairman of the USINFI Advisory Board, expressed appreciation to Reps. Harrigan and Davis for their work in creating the new bipartisan House Berry Amendment Caucus.
“This important caucus will help ensure that U.S. tax dollars are appropriately spent on American-made textiles that are essential to the U.S. military,” says Harries. “It is critical that U.S. textile companies and workers provide a secure supply chain for the highest quality defense materials on a timetable that our armed forces demand. U.S. warfighters should never be dependent on offshore suppliers for critical defense equipment. This caucus and its support for the Berry Amendment is an acknowledgement of that fact and of the valuable contribution the domestic textile industry makes to overall national security.”
NCTO’s statement of support for the caucus’s formation included appreciation from Kim Glas, NCTO president and CEO.
“On behalf of the U.S textile industry, NCTO sincerely thanks Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.) and Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.) for their leadership in co-chairing the new bipartisan House Berry Amendment Caucus, aimed at strengthening national security and the U.S. defense industrial supply chain through the federal procurement of American-made mission-critical clothing, textiles and gear,” says Glas.
“We look forward to working with the new caucus’s leadership and our industry partners to focus congressional efforts on preserving the Berry Amendment and expanding opportunities for U.S. textile manufacturers, safeguarding domestic supply chains, and ensuring our troops continue to receive innovative, high-quality American-made products.”
WPRC’s statement of support included applause from David Costello, executive director of the WPRC.
“The formation of the Berry Amendment Caucus marks an important step in sustaining and growing the domestic industrial base that equips the American warfighter,” says Costello. “For decades, the Berry Amendment has ensured that our servicemembers have a secure supply chain for critical equipment and are never dependent on foreign supply chains for mission-essential gear. In war and in peace, the Berry Amendment guarantees that the United States is always capable of manufacturing the full spectrum of products needed to keep our troops combat-ready. Our association is deeply appreciative of the leadership demonstrated by Reps. Harrigan and Davis in founding this new caucus.”
About USINFI
USINFI is a member group of Advanced Textiles Association, comprising member companies representing the global specialty fabrics and advanced textiles marketplace.
For more information, visit usinfi.textiles.org or contact Member Programs Manager Janelle Buerkley at janelle.buerkley@textiles.org.
About NCTO
NCTO is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association that represents U.S. textile manufacturers.
For more information, visit ncto.org or contact Kristi Ellis at kellis@ncto.org.
About WPRC
WPRC is a trade association that represents American manufacturers and suppliers that provide tactical equipment, apparel and technology to the DOD and the Department of Homeland Security.
For more information, visit warriorprotection.net or contact Costello at david.costello@warriorprotection.net.
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