Trade associations praised Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) for reintroducing the Affordable Footwear Act of 2013 (S. 1633), saying it would lower consumer costs, promote jobs and drive innovation in domestically produced outdoor and children's footwear.

 

The bi-partisan legislation would suspend import duties on outdoor footwear for five years. Co-sponsored by Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Mike Johanns (R-ID), and Claire McCaskill (D-MO), the bill would lower consumer costs, promote jobs and drive innovation in domestically produced outdoor footwear.

 

“If there was ever an opportunity for Washington to improve its public image with the American people, the Affordable Footwear Act is it,” said AAFA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke.  “With today's introduction, the Senate and House now have a valuable opportunity to work together in a bipartisan way and offer hardworking American families a real cost savings at the cash register.”
 

While the average U.S. tariff on consumer goods is 2 percent, tariffs on outdoor footwear products are as high as 37.5 percent. In fact, many of the high tariffs on outdoor footwear exceed federal taxes on cigarettes, a striking disparity which would be corrected by the Affordable Footwear Act’s passage.


 

OIA worked closely with its members to ensure that none of the products covered by the bill are produced in the U.S. Additionally, the limited duration of the bill will allow Congress to remove any products that may be made in the U.S. in the future. AAFA has emphasized that the bill would lower the cost of many types of children's footwear.


 

Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) introduced the House version of the bill – HR 1708 – last spring. It currently has a bi-partisan group of 48 co-sponsors.

 

“This common sense piece of legislation will benefit consumers and businesses,” said Kirk Bailey, vice president of government affairs of Outdoor Industry Association, which has pushed for the legislation for years. “By eliminating disproportionally high tariffs, this bill will fuel innovation in the outdoor domestic shoe industry and help create new jobs in the U.S. By lowering costs for consumers, the Affordable Footwear Act of 2013 will make outdoor recreation and outdoor products more affordable for more Americans.”


 

OIA is asking its members to urge their Senators to become co-sponsors on the Affordable Footwear Act of 2013.