By the Numbers - June 20, 2016
250,000+
The number of pairs of running shoes that U.S. military recruits go through in a year, according to a recent Congressional Research Service Insight brief report -- Athletic Footwear for the Military: The Berry Amendment Controversy (PDF).
The Berry Amendment is a 1941 federal law requiring the Department of Defense (DOD) to purchase "only wholly American-made clothing, textiles, and other essential items for the military." According to the report, most recruits now receive a $75 voucher to purchase running shoes, "which need not be domestic in origin." However, included in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act is a provision that "would require DOD to purchase only athletic footwear made in the United States from domestic materials and components for military recruits."
While some members of Congress -- "especially from the few states that still manufacture shoes" -- favor this provision, it has been opposed by the DOD, the Obama Administration and some footwear manufacturers because it would "restrict choice; increase costs to U.S. taxpayers; and possibly cause injury to military personnel by limiting their choice of running shoes."
The United States accounts for less than 1% of the 24.3 billion pairs of shoes produced worldwide in 2014, while Asia manufactures 88% of the world's shoes. About 99% of all footwear sold in the United States is imported, according to the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America.
250,000+
The number of pairs of running shoes that U.S. military recruits go through in a year, according to a recent Congressional Research Service Insight brief report -- Athletic Footwear for the Military: The Berry Amendment Controversy (PDF).
The Berry Amendment is a 1941 federal law requiring the Department of Defense (DOD) to purchase "only wholly American-made clothing, textiles, and other essential items for the military." According to the report, most recruits now receive a $75 voucher to purchase running shoes, "which need not be domestic in origin." However, included in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act is a provision that "would require DOD to purchase only athletic footwear made in the United States from domestic materials and components for military recruits."
While some members of Congress -- "especially from the few states that still manufacture shoes" -- favor this provision, it has been opposed by the DOD, the Obama Administration and some footwear manufacturers because it would "restrict choice; increase costs to U.S. taxpayers; and possibly cause injury to military personnel by limiting their choice of running shoes."
The United States accounts for less than 1% of the 24.3 billion pairs of shoes produced worldwide in 2014, while Asia manufactures 88% of the world's shoes. About 99% of all footwear sold in the United States is imported, according to the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America.