U.S. Olympians should wear American-made clothes and use American-made equipment, said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal at a press conference at the legislative office building Friday.
Blumenthal came to Hartford to speak about a bill that calls for the U.S. Olympic Committee to buy ceremonial uniforms that are produced in the United States. The bill, which Blumenthal is co-sponsoring, is currently before the committee on commerce, science and transportation and was introduced after lawmakers learned that this year’s Olympic team will be wearing uniforms designed by Ralph Lauren, but made in China.
“The point here is that we can make things here in Connecticut and America,” Blumenthal said, pointing to companies like the Waterbury Button Co. and the Hartford Denim Co. as examples of local companies that could help dress the country’s finest athletes.
In addition to supporting the “Team USA Made in America Act of 2012,” Blumenthal said he recently wrote to U.S. Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Scott Blackman, asking him to plan a summit that would allow U.S. clothing and equipment manufacturers to showcase their products.
“I’m hopeful there will be an agreement going forward that would make legislation unnecessary,” he said of his idea for a summit.
Using American-made clothing and equipment is both symbolic and practical, Blumenthal said. For example, it would bring jobs to America, he said, explaining that he was disappointed that Senate Republicans recently blocked a bill that would have brought jobs back to the United States and stopped outsourcing.
Wearing and using American-made items is also a source of pride. Blumenthal said.
“I think Americans want to see their athletes on the world stage dressed in American apparel,” he said.
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11 Responses to Blumenthal Pushes For Olympians To Wear American-Made Clothing
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Another gem from Captain Obvious Danang Dick Blumenthal. Thanks for electing another do-nothing liberal to Congress.
I hope the people who voted for that Blumy-idiot are much ashamed.
This man (I use this word with hesitation) is without shame. Any reason to grab a headline or camera-shot is concern #1 with this guy.
Hey Rich Blumenthal, 99% of us wear some form of clothing made in China … where are your clothes made … Savoy Row, Britain?
This is Blumenthal being Blumenthal…….dont we have more pressing issuesin Washington than this although i do agree that the clothing should be american made. What about creating jobs, closing the loophole regarding insider trading by US Congress members.
Blumy…get with it!
Blumy Blumy,it’s too late to change at this date.
Aren’t the Olympics about International cooperation and goodwill? Sure it’s a competition but it’s just as much about bringing the world community together I thought. Why would he make this statement about buying and wearing American-made clothing now and make it applicable to Olympians? Opportunistic I guess. While he’s at it, why doesn’t he suggest that the Olympians only eat imported American food while in London, etc. And he does mention equipment, but why stop at clothing, what about the world-class track spikes, bicycles, shot puts, etc? I would NOT expect an athlete to give away an edge if the best equipment available for their particular sport was manufactured in another country. It’s just crazy.
What a dumb ass. How about we start with the US military. Maybe they should wear uniforms made in the USA not China. These guys are dumb. blumy is especially dumb.
Hanes, Levis and many more used to me made in America but not anymore. So what’s the difference with the Olympic B.S.?
What a hypocrit this man and the rest of our legislators are. I agree that our Olympic athletes should use products made in the U.S. However, how about our military? Our government gives contracts to foreign companies to make equipment for our military. This is ok but Olympic equipment isn’t?
All faults aside, Blumenthal is touching the tip of the iceberg here. He is addressing the issue of job creation in this country, he has not articulated it well enough. This incident of our Olympic uniforms being produced over seas should be the catalyst that brings the issue of garment manufacturing in the US to the consciousness of the country at large. There are hundreds of thousands of jobs in making clothes, something this country was once known for and proud of. This is no longer the case. Where and how our clothes are produced should not be taken for granted, but taken very seriously. Anyone serious of creating jobs in the country will take a close look at the garment manufacturing industry in the USA.
Blumey at his best….in reactionary mode…always leading from behind….like Pelosi and Reid making statements that support the unions, but, of course, too late to change anything….