[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 117 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S9630]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CELEBRATE HOSIERY WEEK--AUGUST 5-11, 1996

 Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, next week, August 5-11, marks the 
23d annual observance of Celebrate Hosiery Week. It always gives me 
great pride to join in recognizing an industry which has contributed so 
much to the free enterprise system of our country and so much to the 
economy of North Carolina.
  Mr. President, National Hosiery Week is of special importance to me 
because North Carolina is the leading hosiery State in the Nation. 
North Carolina is proud of the leadership of the hosiery industry and 
the fine quality of life that it has provided for so many people.
  In fact, the hosiery industry plays a substantial role in the economy 
of more than half of the States of the Union. There are 343 companies 
in the hosiery business, operating 456 plants employing 62,300 people 
in 28 States. The statistics are staggering: these 62,300 people 
produce and distribute 22 million dozens pairs of hosiery a year. They 
contributed a record $7.2 billion to the U.S. economy in 1995.
  The hosiery industry has made great strides in improving productivity 
and the quality of its product. These efforts to make the hosiery 
industry more competitive have resulted in significant technological 
and design improvements in the manufacture of hosiery.
  As a result, the hosiery industry has likewise made enormous gains in 
the area of foreign trade. Exports in 1995 grew by 9 percent over 1994 
levels to 22 million dozen pairs--and that, Mr. President, is a lot of 
hosiery exports.
  Mr. President, my hat's off to the hosiery industry because it is 
making a real difference in many small communities where the hosiery 
plant is often the main employer, providing good, stable jobs for its 
employees.
  I extend my sincere thanks and congratulations to the hosiery 
industry and to its many thousands of employees for their outstanding 
contribution to our State and Nation.

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