[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4840]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



          BLACK BERETS FOR U.S. ARMY SHOULD BE MADE IN AMERICA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. 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, I rise this afternoon to 
once again bring attention to the issue of the decision by the Army 
Chief of Staff to issue black berets as standard issue head gear to all 
Army personnel. Until this decision was made, the black beret had been 
the outward symbol of the Army Rangers, one of the most elite fighting 
forces within the United States armed services. While much has been 
said regarding the decision, I believe that even more needs to be said, 
particularly regarding the decision to bypass the Barry amendment and 
purchase the bulk of the berets totaling nearly $35 million from 
Communist China.
  Mr. Speaker, at a time when the small businesses of our Nation are 
struggling for new business, it is a travesty that our own government 
has chosen to bypass the Buy American Rule in order to meet an 
arbitrary deadline. While the 225th birthday of the United States Army 
should be marked with great celebration, I do not believe that the men 
and women who so faithfully serve in the Army would want the day marked 
by having to wear a beret that says ``Made in China.''
  I recently received a letter written by a small businessman from 
Sanford, North Carolina, and I will submit this letter for inclusion in 
the Record.
  Mr. Brooks Pomeranz is president of Cascade Fibers Company, a small 
mill that in a matter of a few short months could convert its cutting 
and sewing operation into a mill that could have produced at least a 
part of the beret order for the United States Army. He writes, and I 
quote him: ``With the decline of U.S. textiles and U.S. textile mills 
closing every month, it is unconscionable that our government is 
contracting foreign companies to manufacture these berets. With just a 
portion of this business being contracted to my company would enable us 
to keep 80 families from losing a vital income for their children. Our 
quality is outstanding and our service is superior. Eighty families, 80 
moms, 80 dads and countless children whose livelihood would continue if 
this bill were given even a portion of the order for new berets. 
Instead, those berets will be made by men and women in China who work 
under the worst possible working conditions for merely pennies per day. 
The same men and women who are told that they are not allowed to 
worship as they please and who are told that they cannot have more than 
one child. And, at the center of all of this is the undeniable fact 
that United States tax dollars would go to a communistic government to 
be used for the purpose of weapons from our enemies to threaten and 
intimidate not only the people of the United States, but also our 
allies. This should concern all Americans.''
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Manzullo) and the Committee on Small Business on the House side for 
holding next week's hearings on this issue, and I want to call on the 
House Committee on Armed Services on which I serve to seek possible 
remedies to this problem before it is too late. The men and women of 
the United States Army and small business owners around the country 
deserve at least that much.
  Mr. Speaker, the letter I referred to earlier follows:

                                       Cascade Fibers Company,

                                      Sanford, NC, March 21, 2001.
     Hon. Walter B. Jones,
     House of Representatives, Cannon Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman Jones: I am the president of Cascade 
     Fibers, a small textile company in Sanford NC employing 80 
     associates. Cascade Fibers, a cut and sew textile business, 
     makes table linens, table skirting, placemats, napkins, and 
     aprons for the hospitality, rental laundry, and retail 
     markets. Our quality is outstanding, and our service is 
     superior. But with large corporations buying out smaller 
     companies, and with the growth of overseas napery being sold 
     at a much cheaper price, Cascade Fibers is experiencing a 
     very difficult time competing in this market, and our time 
     may soon be running out.
       I am including articles that I have recently read regarding 
     berets that our military will be wearing that are to be 
     manufactured overseas so that our soldiers will have them for 
     the US Army's 226th birthday on June 14th. With the decline 
     of US textiles and US textiles mills closing every month, it 
     unconscionable that our government is contracting foreign 
     companies to manufacture these berets. With a portion of this 
     business being contracted to Cascade Fibers, would enable us 
     to keep 80 families from losing a vital income for their 
     children. Our quality is outstanding and our service is 
     superior.
       I am asking for your help ASAP to help me promote my 
     company to the right contacts to be able to receive a portion 
     of this business. Anything that you can do will be greatly 
     appreciated by these American families so they can continue 
     to provide for their children.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Brooks Pomeranz,
     President.

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