WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Chellie Pingree co-sponsored a bill today to force the Department of Defense to buy American-made athletic footwear for military personnel. Although the Berry Amendment requires the military to buy American-made uniforms, the military has circumvented this requirement by giving cash allowances to new recruits to buy training footwear. Although the Pentagon agreed two years ago to stop the practice and buy American-made athletic footwear, the military has failed to live up to that commitment.

"The Department of Defense has said, over and over again, that they would buy American-made athletic shoes for military personnel. But the truth is they just haven't followed through. We've asked them repeatedly to make those purchases, so now the time has come to stop asking and start requiring them to do so."

The bill, the Stepping Up for American Workers and Troops Act, that Pingree co-sponsored today was introduced by Representatives Nikki Tsongas and Bruce Poliquin.