A congressman from New York hopes to bolster pride in America, and boost American manufacturers, by pushing legislation that would require gift shops throughout the National Park System to carry items made in America.
“When I walk into one of the gift shops at our monuments or national parks, it’s deeply deflating that nearly every item – from American flag mugs to Theodore Roosevelt teddy bears – comes with a ‘Made in China’ sticker,” said Rep. Steve Israel, D-New York. “If we want American manufacturing to thrive again, then we need to show that we believe in it. That’s why I’m introducing legislation to bring ‘Made in the USA’ back to our nation’s proudest sites.”
The legislation, the American Parks, American Products Act, was introduced last Thursday. It would require that all items sold in gift shops, and visitors centers within the National Park System be made in America.
According to the congressman's staff, a large number of items sold at national parks and monuments are produced abroad, many in China. The current U.S. trade deficit with China, his staff noted, is at a record high with a $273 billion trade gap between what the U.S. imports versus exports from China. The overall U.S. trade deficit is $497 billion and that was projected to grow in 2011.
According to ABC News, “Economists say that if every one of us spent an extra $3.33 on U.S.-made goods every year, it would create nearly 10,000 new jobs in this country.”
Congressman Israel's staff says the Park Service administers more than 500 concessions contracts, with a gross annual valuation of more than $1 billion.
However, his staff could not say Friday what it would cost park concessionaires and cooperating associations to switch from items made abroad to those made in America.
Back on Long Island in the congressman's district, union leaders praised the legislation.
“The Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, would like to thank Congressman Israel for his commitment to promoting American made products. His efforts will support the livelihoods of millions of hard-working Americans, including union members, who are capable of building, maintaining and servicing the American economy," said Roger Clayman, the executive director of the Long Island Federation of Labor. "There are 25 million people in our country who need full-time work, and there is plenty of work to be done."
New York, alone, has 22 units of the National Park System that were visited by more than 17.5 million people in 2010, according to the Democrat's staff.
In 1933, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the “Buy American Act” into law, his staff noted. The legislation created a preference for American goods in government purchases. The American Parks, American Products Act follows the precedent set by FDR of encouraging domestic manufacturing and job creation through government purchases, it added.
Comments
I just checked the book I bought at Gettysburg. The book was printed in the USA, but the author is Australian. Good for American printers, not good for American authors? What if the little whatnots are designed by Americans but manufactured in China? What does or doesn't generate American jobs is complex.
How I wish it could come to be...but I agree that the shelves are going to be bare for lack of products that park visitors might want to buy, be able to afford, or have the taste for. I just returned from a visit to Churchill, Manitoba ("Polar Bear Capital of the World") where the gift shops have the same problem. At least the Canadians have a few appealing, affordable products (beautiful truly wild wild rice, small vials of maple syrup, and the art and handcrafts of First Nations and other Canadians) that make nice gifts.
I'd want to start by going through Congressperson Israel's office and check out the pens in the drawers, the cheapo congressional cufflinks they give to visiting constituents, or those silk ties he brought back from his last European junket, and so forth.
Nice idea, to ___encourage___ buying "made in USA" stuff. Not very realistic in the current world except for gathering a headline or two.
Rep Steve Israeli is a politician doing what politicians do. He's simply pandering to his union voters and their money with another piece of useless, impractical, if not risible legislation. If he had bothered researching the "Made in America" issue with the NPS's uniform acquisition folks, he would have learned something valuable. The story involves a more than thirty year history of how difficult it has been to comply with such a law while supplying uniformed employees with innovative, quality items at less than astronomical costs. It doesn't appear as difficult today to find items, but I can guarantee you, the NPS is paying good money - taxpayer money - to help keep the American clothing and shoe industry alive. One can only imagine the chaos and expense to concessioners and associations through "Made in America" laws. And think about the new bureaucracy coming out of the Office of Inventory Origin. More paper, more process, less product. When you can find equivalent inventory, just add the dealer cost difference, plus your new overhead, to the price tag.
Israel's thinking would work really well- a least for a few decades - in an East Germany where you could build a wall to keep your customers in and other products out. If POTUS is reelected, maybe Israel's idea will catch on in which case he'll have the last laugh.
I think Made in America is the way to go when ever I make it up to Montana and go to Glacier and Yellowstone I always buy Jams made right in MT. I also like to buy local carvings my dad has a pentant for bears. I know it cost more but hell I'm on vacation and I want local stuff not stuff I can buy on the internet and is made anywhere but here. When I go to Canada and visit their parks I want canandian stuff not stuff made anywhere else either so I am an equal opportunity made in the the place your park is at kind of person.
MARIE
Vegas
I spent last winter volunteering at one of our National parks. Our bookstore had some wonderful gift items from local natives along with U.S. published books.
During my six months in the park, I reached the feeling that Americanization of the parks could begin with the park service. For example, our uniforms and caps were made off-shore though they carried NPS logos.
The real disappointment was the day we got our new American flag to replace the tattered one we had. I eagerly opened the bag and unfolded the flag. My eye immediately caught the "made in China" logo. We don't even have American-made flags flying over our U.S. National Parks. Perhaps the congressman could include those kinds of things which certainly can be sourced in the country instead of off-shore. That might be a very good beginning place.
There is a big picture to this issue and it might be a bit concerning to many. When the Martin Luther King Memorial was outsourced to China and is now managed by NPS some might recognize a "Houston, we have a problem moment."
While touting increased regulations on everything as some high moral enterprise these same people find the temptation to great to naturally go where the best deal is. You can't just direct/restrict concessionaire to sell made in USA products without serious repercussions that many can't invasion. Look around at the state of things and some could see that things are greatly out of whack.
Many ideas for made in the USA:
http://toolbar.inbox.com/search/results.aspx?q=best+of+made+in+oregon+shops&tbid=80291&aff=1978&src=pts&tp=pts
Pendleton Blankets and other woolen items, Myrtlewood craft items,
and Native American items from nearby Native American Indian shops
Xanterra buyers are often a gross disappointment for creative ideas for
items they tend to mark-up over 100%