Maine lawmakers are asking the U.S. Department of Defense to explain a procurement policy that allows U.S. service members to acquire foreign-made athletic shoes. New Balance, which operates shoe plants in the U.S., including three in Maine, has spoken out on the matter.
According to a report in Morning Sentinel in Maine, New Balance President and CEO Robert DeMartini said in a statement that
the company believes “the Department of Defense should take the
necessary steps to preserve the decades-old intent of the Berry
Amendment as it relates to athletic footwear.”
He added, “We believe all soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines should
be trained for combat readiness with athletic footwear made by U.S.
workers. We look forward to an open and transparent process that allows
American companies like New Balance and others to put American-made
footwear on America’s finest.”
The Berry Amendment, originally passed in 1941, requires the Department of Defense to give preference in procurement to domestically produced, manufactured, or home grown products, most notably food, clothing, fabrics, and specialty metals.
However, a 2009 decision by the Pentagon exempted athletic shoes from Berry Amendment. Since 2009, soldiers have received vouchers to purchase whatever brand of athletic shoes they choose.
New Balance has shoe plants in Skowhegan, Norridgewock and Norway and employs 838 Mainers.
New Balance’s public relations manager Kristen Sullivan told the Morning Sentinel that the company has sold athletic shoes to the military for years. In 2009, New Balance started customizing its domestically made model 993 shoe for different branches of the military.
In answer to Maine lawmaker’s requests over the last year and a half asking to explain the change, the Department of Defense in March 2011 released an initial report saying the shoe voucher program gives “new recruits the ability to buy commercially available running shoes of their choice, in consideration of the uniqueness of their individual physiology, running style and individual comfort and fit requirements.”
The report added that the Berry Amendment exempts domestic items that are not available in “satisfactory quality and sufficient quantity,” or those that cannot be procured “as and when needed at U.S. market prices.”
The Department of Defense plans to issue a final report by June 1.
