IV 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 731 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

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.