[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H6664-H6666]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WOOL SUIT FABRIC LABELING FAIRNESS AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
CONFORMING ACT
Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4583) to amend the Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939 to
revise the requirements for labeling of certain wool and cashmere
products, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4583
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Wool Suit Fabric Labeling
Fairness and International Standards Conforming Act''.
SEC. 2. LABELING OF WOOL AND CASHMERE PRODUCTS TO FACILITATE
COMPLIANCE AND PROTECT CONSUMERS.
(a) In General.--Section 4(a) of the Wool Products Labeling
Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. 68b(a)) is amended by adding at the
end the following new paragraphs:
``(5) In the case of a wool product stamped, tagged,
labeled, or otherwise identified as--
``(A) `Super 80's' or `80's', if the average diameter of
wool fiber of such wool product does not average 19.75
microns or finer;
``(B) `Super 90's' or `90's', if the average diameter of
wool fiber of such wool product does not average 19.25
microns or finer;
``(C) `Super 100's' or `100's', if the average diameter of
wool fiber of such wool product does not average 18.75
microns or finer;
``(D) `Super 110's' or `110's', if the average diameter of
wool fiber of such wool product does not average 18.25
microns or finer;
[[Page H6665]]
``(E) `Super 120's' or `120's', if the average diameter of
wool fiber of such wool product does not average 17.75
microns or finer;
``(F) `Super 130's' or `130's', if the average diameter of
wool fiber of such wool product does not average 17.25
microns or finer;
``(G) `Super 140's' or `140's', if the average diameter of
wool fiber of such wool product does not average 16.75
microns or finer;
``(H) `Super 150's' or `150's', if the average diameter of
wool fiber of such wool product does not average 16.25
microns or finer;
``(I) `Super 160's' or `160's', if the average diameter of
wool fiber of such wool product does not average 15.75
microns or finer;
``(J) `Super 170's' or `170's', if the average diameter of
wool fiber of such wool product does not average 15.25
microns or finer;
``(K) `Super 180's' or `180's', if the average diameter of
wool fiber of such wool product does not average 14.75
microns or finer;
``(L) `Super 190's' or `190's', if the average diameter of
wool fiber of such wool product does not average 14.25
microns or finer;
``(M) `Super 200's' or `200's', if the average diameter of
wool fiber of such wool product does not average 13.75
microns or finer;
``(N) `Super 210's' or `210's', if the average diameter of
wool fiber of such wool product does not average 13.25
microns or finer;
``(O) `Super 220's' or `220's', if the average diameter of
wool fiber of such wool product does not average 12.75
microns or finer;
``(P) `Super 230's' or `230's', if the average diameter of
wool fiber of such wool product does not average 12.25
microns or finer;
``(Q) `Super 240's' or `240's', if the average diameter of
wool fiber of such wool product does not average 11.75
microns or finer; and
``(R) `Super 250's' or `250's', if the average diameter of
wool fiber of such wool product does not average 11.25
microns or finer.
In each such case, the average fiber diameter of such wool
product may be subject to such standards or deviations as
adopted by regulation by the Commission.
``(6) In the case of a wool product stamped, tagged,
labeled, or otherwise identified as cashmere, if--
``(A) such wool product is not the fine (dehaired)
undercoat fibers produced by a cashmere goat (capra hircus
laniger);
``(B) the average diameter of the fiber of such wool
product exceeds 19 microns; or
``(C) such wool product contains more than 3 percent (by
weight) of cashmere fibers with average diameters that exceed
30 microns.
The average fiber diameter may be subject to a coefficient of
variation around the mean that shall not exceed 24
percent.''.
(b) Applicability Date.--The amendments made by this
section shall apply to wool products manufactured on or after
January 1, 2007.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Stearns) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms.
Schakowsky) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
General Leave
Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on the legislation and to insert extraneous material on the
bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4583, the Wool Suit
Fabric Labeling Fairness and International Standards Conforming Act,
introduced by my colleague, Mrs. Blackburn of Tennessee, and co-
sponsored by my colleague, the ranking member of our subcommittee, Ms.
Schakowsky of Illinois.
This is a simple bill, my colleagues, which is fundamental and has a
fundamental purpose: to give consumers the information they need to
make buying decisions about the products they want.
This bill would amend the Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939 to make
specific and standard certain designations of fabric quality for
certain wool products.
For years, high-end suits and other expensive wool garments have
carried the label ``super'' and a number like 120 or 130, to designate
the fineness of the weave of the wool and thus the quality and cost of
producing the fabric. It is about time we make certain that there is a
standard, internationally accepted definition of the ``super''
designation to ensure that unscrupulous garment manufacturers don't
dupe consumers with simple phony labels. We owe that to the American
consumer and to the great American textile industry that produces these
fine products.
H.R. 4583 makes the ``super'' designation a standard designation of
quality wool products. Likewise, the Wool Suit Fabric Labeling Fairness
and International Standards Conforming Act creates a specific and
standard definition of cashmere so that the term cashmere actually
means a certain thing rather than serving as an nonspecific reference
to a quality. The end result is a bill that establishes a legal
standard for labeling ``super'' and cashmere wool products based on
internationally accepted standards.
As I said, while these may seem a bit technical, standardizing the
designation of a certain level of quality, no matter what the products,
allows consumers and the manufacturers alike to be certain that what
they are spending their hard-earned dollars on is real and is genuine.
That is a laudable goal for any piece of legislation.
I therefore would like to urge my colleagues to join me in supporting
it on final passage.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4583,
the Wool Suit Fabric Labeling Fairness and International Standards
Conforming Act; and I want to thank Representative Blackburn, the lead
sponsor of H.R. 4583. It was a pleasure to work with her and her staff
on a bill that would help consumers, American workers, and
manufacturers in the wool products industry.
Our bill would update the Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939 to
include the internationally recognized standards for wool fiber content
of the various ``super'' grade fabric, and ensure that any clothing
labeled as cashmere actually includes hair from the cashmere goat.
Although quite simple and straightforward, our bill is very important
to the U.S. wool products industry. With the increase in imports from
China, the domestic apparel manufacturers and textile mills face
significant challenges to maintaining employment and production. By
requiring clothing to be labeled properly, our bill will help level the
playing field. It will ensure that consumers are better informed about
the products they are buying, and it will put an end to mislabeled wool
and cashmere products in the United States. No longer will imported
suits of a lower quality be able to claim they are the same high
quality as those bearing the ``made in the U.S.A.'' label. This bill
updates the outdated law that does not recognize the different levels
of yarn fineness.
We have a great tradition of wool suit craftsmanship in the United
States. By updating the Wool Products Labeling Act, H.R. 4583 will help
ensure the health and vitality of the U.S. apparel and textile industry
which includes members of my union, UNITE HERE!, and two Chicago-based
manufacturers, Hartmarx and Oxxford Clothes.
The passage of our bill will ensure that the U.S. tailored clothing
industry can continue to thrive in the international marketplace. H.R.
4583 is supported both by the wool suit manufacturers and the Garment
Workers Union, UNITE HERE!, as well as the U.S. textile industry. I
urge my colleagues to support it as well, and I look forward to the
passage of this bill today.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the author of the
bill, the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn).
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Speaker, I do rise today in support of this
legislation to update our wool labeling laws. I want to thank Chairman
Barton, Ranking Member Dingell, as well as Chairman Stearns, for their
help in bringing the legislation forward. I also want to thank and
commend my friend from Illinois, the ranking member of the Commerce
Trade and Consumer Protections Subcommittee, Representative Schakowsky,
for joining me to sponsor the legislation.
The Wool Suit Fabric Labeling Fairness and International Standards
Conforming Act will modernize the Wool Labeling Act by using the
international definition of ``super'' as an identifier for the quality
of wool products. We have written this legislation to protect consumers
and industry participants from the mislabeling of certain suiting
fabrics.
[[Page H6666]]
In recent years, many wool products at the wholesale and retail
level, including worsted wool fabrics and apparel items, are being
marketed and labeled as ``super 100,'' and ``super 120s,'' and so-
called ``super'' grades. These refer to the fineness of the yarn
contained in the product. The finer the average yard is in diameter,
the higher the super's grade.
Higher super grades reflect products that are supposed to have higher
yarns and therefore sold at higher prices. The Wool Labeling Act, which
regulates the labeling of wool products in the United States, has not
been amended to reflect the current marketing practice of using supers
as an identifier for quality wool products.
The International Wool Textile Organization is the international body
representing the interests of the world's wool textile industry, which
includes the U.S., oversees the implementation of the International
Wool Textile Arbitration Agreement. The IWTO has adopted a code of
practice regarding the use of the term ``super'' on wool products, and
the exact yarn diameter that each level of ``super'' must contain.
Woolmark, a company that licenses the use of the Woolmark logo, has
accepted the identical definition.
Modernization of the Wool Labeling Act has strong support, as my
colleague mentioned. It is supported by the National Textile
Association, Victor Forstman, UNITE, the Cashmere and Camel Hair
Manufacturers Institute, the American Apparel and Footwear Association,
Hartmarx, and Hickey Freeman on behalf of the Tailored Clothing
Association.
As the domestic tailored clothing industry and wool textile mills
continue to face significant challenges, this legislation is timely and
it is vital to the continued health of this important manufacturing
sector in the U.S. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation.
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, let me close by saying this: this is
really a jobs bill and a truth-in-labeling bill. It is a win-win-win
situation: good for the consumers, good for the manufacturers, good for
the garment workers. And I urge its passage.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 4583, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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