Federal Trade Commission
Received Documents
June 24, 1996
P894219
B18354900168


                  CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
                     HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                     WASHINGTON, D.C.  20515


                          June 11, 1996



Dear Chairman Pitofsky:

  I am writing in response to the Commission's request for comments on its review of the standard for
making "Made in  USA" advertising or labeling claims.  I urge the Commission to retain the current standard
which permits a company to advertise its products as "Made in  USA" only if "all or virtually all" of the
product is of U.S. origin.

  I am a strong supporter of companies that invest in American jobs and manufacturing facilities, and I
believe that the Commission's policies should encourage such investment.  Companies whose manufactured
products meet the all or virtually all standard should benefit from the marketing advantage of the Made in 
USA label.  Weakening the current Made in  USA standard would eliminate the incentive that such
companies have to rely on U.S. manufacturing and an American workforce.  The result would undoubtedly be
a shift to less expensive foreign sources and a loss of U.S. jobs.

  Companies which are unable to meet the current Made in  USA standard but which have substantial
U.S. manufacturing should be able to continue the use of qualified claims to let consumers know where their
products were made.  Rather than weakening the Made in  USA standard, the Commission should continue to
encourage the use of modified claims for products which fall short of "all or virtually all" U.S. content.

  In summary, I believe the Commission's existing rules provide for truthful advertising claims for the
range of products being manufactured in today's global marketplace, while providing strong incentives for
the manufacture of products in the United States.  I urge the Commission to retain the current Made in  USA 
standard.

                                     Sincerely,



                                     James H.  Quillen

The Honorable Robert Pitofsky
Chairman
Federal Trade Commission
Sixth and Pennsylvania, NW
Washington, D.C. 20580