[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 731 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 731

  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that clothing 
issued to athletes representing the United States of America should be 
                            made in America.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 17, 2012

Mr. Lipinski submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                     the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that clothing 
issued to athletes representing the United States of America should be 
                            made in America.

Whereas the Olympics is an important quadrennial opportunity for Americans to 
        celebrate national unity and support the athletes who represent the 
        country as a matter of national pride;
Whereas similarly, Americans hold in high esteem the goods manufactured and 
        produced by the United States, and 89 percent of Americans believe 
        taxpayer dollars should support goods made in America;
Whereas the United States Olympic Committee is a federally chartered nonprofit 
        corporation;
Whereas the United States Government makes efforts, consistent with 
        international trade laws, to place a priority on goods made by American 
        suppliers;
Whereas the opening ceremony uniforms given to 2012 United States Olympic 
        athletes were made in China, and Americans were rightly shocked to find 
        out this was the case;
Whereas the United States has lost 2,800,000 jobs in the ten years following 
        2001, the year trade relations with China were normalized, and 178,700 
        of those jobs were in the textile sector;
Whereas the unemployment rate in the United States stands at 8.2 percent, 
        translating to 12.7 million Americans unemployed, and 58,000 of those 
        are in the textile sector;
Whereas there are many American textile and clothing manufacturers capable of 
        producing high-quality blazers, shirts, pants, and skirts for less than 
        the amount paid for Team USA's uniforms; and
Whereas the Olympics represents a great opportunity for textile manufacturers in 
        the United States to produce high-value clothing for athletes who 
        represent Americans in international competition: Now therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) it is a high honor to represent the United States as an 
        Olympian, and the clothing worn by United States Olympic 
        athletes should symbolize the strength, pride, and vitality of 
        the Nation in every respect;
            (2) the United States Olympic Committee should consider the 
        economic consequences of its purchasing decisions and its 
        ability to positively contribute to American job creation, 
        especially during a time of high unemployment; and
            (3) the United States Olympic Committee should strive to 
        ensure that all of the clothing and equipment purchased for 
        United States Olympic athletes is made in America.
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