[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 57 (Tuesday, May 1, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H1697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  DECISION TO CHANGE HEADGEAR OF U.S. ARMY FROM FOLDING GREEN CAPS TO 
                  BLACK BERETS DISAGREED WITH BY MANY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Isakson). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, last week I attended a 
briefing before the House Committee on Armed Services regarding the 
decision to change the headgear of the United States Army from the 
traditional green folding cap to a black beret. There have been many 
hearings and briefings since this decision was announced, and it seems 
to me, following each one, another bit of information not previously 
known has come to light.
  The decision to disregard the history and proud tradition of the 
Rangers was the first bad decision. The decision to bypass the Berry 
amendment and purchase the berets from China and other foreign 
countries, rather than buy them from U.S. suppliers, was the second bad 
decision.
  I did not believe that this decision could become any worse, but the 
longer the situation drags on, the worse it seems to become. The bottom 
line is that we have troops without adequate ammunition and pilots who 
cannot fly because of a lack of funds, so why would the Army spend $23 
million to change the color of a hat on the whim of one general? It 
just does not add up. Just like a dead fish, this seems to be rotting 
from the head down.
  Mr. Speaker, I have heard from many of our retired and active duty 
Rangers, among them Sgt. Bill Round from my district and Sgt. David 
Nielsen, who are both veterans. Believe me when I say, contrary to what 
has been reported, they are not pleased with the decision to change the 
beret designation to tan.
  Mr. Speaker, tomorrow I will testify before the House Committee on 
Small Business regarding the matter in which the Berry amendment was 
arbitrarily dismissed. The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo) and 
the Committee on Small Business are to be commended for calling the 
hearing so that the Committee on Small Business can flesh out how the 
decision to bypass the Berry amendment was reached.
  During my testimony, I will be discussing a bill that I have 
introduced that will prevent an error like this from ever happening 
again in the future. However, the immediate need needs to be addressed 
right now. The decision regarding the change from folding green hats to 
black beret appears to be dying a slow death. Murmurings are 
circulating about shoddy workmanship, and I am sure that other problems 
will come to light following the hearing tomorrow.
  The time to bring an end to this ill-fated decision has come. It is 
my hope that the Congress and the administration can stop this outrage 
once and for all and restore the emblem which for so long has been a 
symbol of excellence in the United States Army, the Rangers wearing the 
black beret.

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