Res. No. 704
Resolution calling upon the federal government to only purchase military uniforms made wholly in the United States, and to give New York City its fair share of military uniform purchasing contracts.
By Council Members Addabbo, Avella, Brewer, Clarke, Comrie, Fidler, Foster, Gerson, Jackson, Liu, Martinez, Nelson, Quinn, Recchia, Rivera, Sanders, Seabrook, Vann, Weprin and Gonzalez
Whereas, The Berry Amendment, enacted in 1941, requires that the U.S. Department of Defense purchase clothing, tents, tarpaulins or covers, cotton and other natural fiber products which are made wholly in the United States; and
Whereas, According to the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC), apparel is a $172 billion retail market nationwide, employing approximately 4.64 million people, including approximately 3.6 million in retail sales, 573,000 in apparel production, and 470,000 in textile production; and
Whereas, According to the New York State Department of Labor, the fashion industry generates almost 100,000 jobs in fashion-related manufacturing firms in New York City; and
Whereas, According to the Fiscal Policy Institute, apparel manufacturing accounts for one-third of the manufacturing jobs in the City, and is the largest single source of manufacturing jobs; and
Whereas, The Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE) has joined designers and garment manufacturers in launching an international marketing campaign, entitled “Proudly Made in New York,” to help boost clothing sales and save thousands of apparel industry City jobs; and
Whereas, Many companies, including Brooks Brothers, Bill Blass, Leslie Fay, and Lafayette 148, are displaying the “Proudly Made in New York” hangtags in retail shops worldwide; and
Whereas, According to UNITE, New York City receives less than 1% of the dollars the nation spends on military uniforms, although it accounts for 12% of all U.S. apparel manufacturing employment; and
Whereas, In June 2004, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, an agency of the Department of Homeland Security, ordered $30 million in uniforms from VF Solutions in Nashville, Tennessee, pursuant to a contract which allowed the company to contract out its work to other facilities in the United States, Mexico, Canada, and the Dominican Republic; and
Whereas, Instead of allowing apparel manufacturing orders for U.S. government uniforms to be filled outside of the country, the federal government should follow the spirit of the Berry Amendment and use only domestic manufacturers; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the federal government to only purchase military uniforms made wholly in the United States, and to give New York City its fair share of military uniform purchasing contracts.
THC - LS #1663
12/1/04