[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 103 (Friday, July 10, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7360-S7361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Mr. Crapo, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Enzi, and 
        Mr. Schumer):
  S. 1439. A bill to provide for duty-free treatment of certain 
recreational performance outerwear, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Finance
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the U.S. Outdoor 
Act. no denying that this economy has got Americans worried. People are 
stressed, and with good reason. One thing that we see time and again 
during recessions is that people look to get their minds off the tough 
times for just a little while with low-cost, simple activities that the 
whole family can enjoy. Outdoor recreation fits that bill; it makes 
people healthier and happier too.
  But recreational performance outerwear--jackets and pants used for 
skiing and snowboarding, mountaineering, hunting, fishing, and dozens 
of other outdoor activities--are assessed some of the highest duty 
rates applied to any products imported into the U.S. These 
disproportionately high tariffs, let us call them what they are, taxes, 
were originally implemented to protect U.S. outerwear manufacturers 
from foreign competition. Instead, now these import taxes stifle 
innovation, add substantial costs for outdoor businesses, and 
ultimately raise the prices we all pay at the cash register. We can fix 
this, help these companies to better compete globally while investing 
in eco-friendly technology and jobs here in the U.S., and help 
consumers in these tough times so more people can get out and enjoy the 
great outdoors.
  So today, I am proud to introduce the U.S. Optimal Use of Trade to 
Develop Outerwear and Outdoor Recreation Act, or the U.S. Outdoor Act. 
This bill is the result of partnership between performance outerwear 
manufacturers and the domestic textile and

[[Page S7361]]

apparel industry. In 2007, the U.S. International Trade Commission 
found that there was no commercially viable production of performance 
outerwear in the U.S.. This legislation reflects those findings, and 
makes a solid investment in U.S. jobs. It spurs outdoor recreation and 
its industry, which accounts for $730 billion dollars and 65 million 
jobs across the U.S., with 73,000 jobs in Oregon, and this bill can 
potentially create many more. This would also help lower costs for 
consumers, who pay $289 billion in outdoor retail sales and services 
across the country, with $4.6 billion in Oregon.
  The U.S. Outdoor Act eliminates the import duty for qualifying 
recreational performance outerwear, bringing duties that can be as high 
as 28 percent down to zero. It also establishes the Sustainable Textile 
and Apparel Research, STAR, fund, which invests in U.S. technologies 
and jobs that focus on sustainable, environmentally conscious 
manufacturing, helping textile and apparel companies work towards 
minimizing their energy and water use, reducing waste and their carbon 
footprint, and incorporating efficiencies that help them better compete 
globally.
  The U.S. Outdoor Act reduces the costs for U.S. companies and 
consumers, encourages Americans to take part in healthy and active 
lifestyles through outdoor recreation, spurs economic activity, invests 
in the U.S. textile industry, supports American jobs and 
competitiveness, and encourages sustainable business practices to 
benefit the environment so we all can continue to enjoy the beauty that 
is the great outdoors.
  I want to thank the Outdoor Industry Association, for their tireless 
work with my office, and with the U.S. ITC and other agencies in 
perfecting this bill. I also want to acknowledge and thank those in the 
U.S. textile and apparel industry who have partnered with the outdoor 
industry to develop a thoughtful and well balanced bill that supports 
American jobs and U.S. technologies. I thank my house colleague, 
Congressman Blumenauer, who had introduced an earlier version of this 
bill in the last Congress and is introducing companion legislation. 
Finally, thank you to my Senate colleagues, Senator Crapo, who is an 
original cosponsor of this bill, Senator Cantwell, Senator Enzi, and 
Senator Schumer.

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