H.R. 4159: To require the Secretary of Defense to issue regulations requiring that optional combat boots worn by members of the Armed Forces wear be made in America, and for other purposes.

This bill aims to require that optional combat boots worn by members of the Armed Forces be manufactured entirely in the United States. The key points of the bill include:

Regulations for Combat Footwear

The bill mandates that within 730 days after it becomes law, the Secretary of Defense must establish regulations that prevent any member of the armed forces from wearing optional combat boots as part of their uniform unless those boots meet specific requirements. The specified requirements include:

• The boots must be fully manufactured in the U.S.
• All materials used in the boots must be sourced from within the United States, including:
  • Materials that are grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced domestically.
  • Components that are also made entirely in the U.S. using the above-mentioned materials.

Exemptions

The legislation allows for specific exemptions under the following circumstances:

• Availability Exemption: If designated officials determine a specific need for optional combat boots that cannot be met with domestically produced options, they may waive the requirement. This can apply to boots designed for a specific military need.
• Medical Exemption: If a member of the armed forces requires optional combat boots for medical reasons that address unique physiological needs, the prohibition does not apply.

Definitions

The bill includes definitions to clarify terms used within it:

• Armed Forces: Refers to the military as defined in existing U.S. laws.
• Secretary Concerned: Refers to the relevant Secretary of Defense or related officials overseeing military operations.
• Optional Combat Boots: Defined as combat boots that are not provided by the Secretary of Defense to a servicemember.
• Required Uniform: This refers to the standard uniform that a member of the armed forces is obligated to wear.

Implementation Timeline

The Secretary of Defense is required to publish these regulations within two years of the bill's passage. This timeline indicates a significant push towards domestic manufacturing of this specific type of military gear.

Relevant Companies

• NKE (Nike Inc.): Nike may be affected if they currently supply combat boots or related apparel to the military, as they may need to ensure that their products meet the new manufacturing requirements.
• ADTN (Adtran, Inc.): If Adtran has contracts to supply military footwear, changes in production requirements could impact their manufacturing processes and costs.