WASHINGTON, D.C. (WTWO/WAWV)—Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, along with U.S. Representatives Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) and Mike Bost (R-IL-12), helped introduce a bill to ensure the armed forces have quality boots made domestically.
The law aims to provide high-quality, safe, and reliable footwear to the armed forces while also creating good-paying jobs. The act will expand the current uniform regulations and ensure that U.S. servicemembers are wearing combat boots entirely made in America and made with U.S.-sourced materials.
“Ensuring our military’s readiness means every part of our servicemembers’ uniforms must be functional, reliable, and safe—and that we can surge supplies in crisis or conflict,” Duckworth said. “Mandating that all optional combat boots be American-made means not only that our troops wear high-quality footwear, but it also means we’re reducing our reliance on foreign supply chains, bolstering our defense industrial base, and creating good-paying jobs for small and large manufacturers in communities right here at home. I’m proud to introduce this commonsense legislation.”
The bill is titled the Better Outfitting Our Troops (BOOTS) Act. The act will specifically change the uniform regulations to mandate that all optional combat boots worn by the military are Berry Amendment-compliant, which means that they are 100% American-made with U.S.-sourced materials.
“As a Marine, the father of a Marine, and the grandfather of a Marine, I know firsthand how important it is that our troops have the high-quality boots required to face tough terrain,” said Bost. “This legislation will better protect our troops by ensuring their equipment is consistent, safe, and produced on American soil.”
The Department of Defense currently allows soldiers to purchase foreign-made boots that mimic the appearance of those that are under regulations. The news release states that these boots are lacking in quality and durability. The press release states that this loophole in regulations allowed for a major increase in low-quality, foreign-made boots, leading to a significant decline in demand from American companies. The release states this has led to a drop in domestic manufacturing capabilities and undermines the domestic defense supply chain, which would be affected in the event of a major conflict.
