United States military recruits would be required to purchase athletic shoes made in America, under new proposed federal legislation.
The Department of Defense allows military recruits to buy their own athletics shoes with an allowance it provides them. The proposed law would require that allowance to be spent on athletic shoes made domestically.
The bill is authored by Senators Susan Collins and Angus King of Maine. Interestingly enough, three of the New Balance shoe company's factories are in Maine. And, according to Runner's World, New Balance is the only major manufacturer that makes its shoes in the United States.
"The President said in his State of the Union address that one of his top priorities is making America a magnet for new jobs and manufacturing. We share this priority. One way we can make that possible without increasing the federal deficit a single dime is to make sure that the athletic footwear purchased every year by entry-level military recruits is manufactured by U.S. companies like New Balance."
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