FTC: Made In The USA Comments Concerning Howard A. Vaughan, Jr.--P894219 CENTERVILLE LUMBER CO. June 3, 1997 FAX #202-225-2814 The Honorable Ed Bryant Dear Representative Bryant: On behalf of Centerville Lumber Company, I write in strong support of H.Cong.Res. 80, which expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal Trade Commission should not weaken the standard for manufacturers to advertise their products as "Made in USA." Maintaining the highest standard for Made in USA advertising is critical to jobs at American companies like Centerville Lumber Company and to prevent deception of consumers who value the Made in USA label. Centerville Lumber Company, having 14 employees, manufactures quality handles for hand and garden tools all or virtually all in the United States and proudly advertises them as "Made in USA." The Federal Trade Commission recently released proposed guidelines that would weaken the standard for "Made in the USA" advertising from "all or virtually all" U.S. content to "substantially all" U.S. content. Safe harbors under the guidelines specify that a product with only 75% U.S. content meets this standard. In some cases, the proposal would allow a product made entirely from foreign parts or materials to bear a "Made in USA" label. If finalized, the Federal Trade Commission's proposal will result in deception of American consumers and will jeopardize U.S. jobs. Centerville Lumber Company urges you to co-sponsor H.Con.Res. 80 as a sign of your support for the integrity of the "Made in USA" label. We also ask that you write the Federal Trade Commission to express your opposition to weakening the "Made in USA" standard. Thank you very much for your consideration of our views on this important issue. Sincerely, CENTERVILLE LUMBER COMPANY Howard A. Vaughan, Jr. HAVJR:caw |