FTC: Made In The USA Comments Concerning I.B.E.W. Local Union # 1040--P894219 Local Union 1040 August 05th, 1997 Office of the Secretary Honorable Secretary, I am writing to you on behalf of the workers I represent, and on behalf of all American workers, to address the "expansion" being considered for the use of the “Made in USA” label. Perhaps that is not the correct way to describe it, rather, the “EXPLOITATION" being considered for the use of the “Made in USA" label is a more accurate description There is only one criteria to determine whether or not a product should bear the “Made in USA" label. That is solely the location where the product was made. Period. Our map of the United States of America has not changed very much in the past 100 years, so it should be fairly easy to figure out whether or not said location qualifies as a territory of the United States. If there is a proposal to consider changing this criteria, it should be to further enforce the penalty for exploitation of the already liberal policy that permits many products to bear this label when they have no such basis for this claim. Truth in labeling should be held to maintain at very least, the truth. Before the NAFTA agreement went through, it was forecasted that jobs would be lost. Jobs were lost in droves, and Americans are still feeling the impact. Now you want to change the rules on what determines a product is “Made in USA”? How can this be in the best interests of the United States of America, or its hardworking citizens, or the Federal Trade Commission? I have enclosed for you a better proposal which will more accurately depict the truth in labeling, and provide a clearer picture to all consumers making purchases. This is the best approach to the problem in my opinion. Thank you for considering my proposal, now please preserve the pride-in workmanship and quality that comes with American-made products. We are the most productive industrialized nation in the world, and our quality of work is yet to be exceeded by anyone. Broadening the 'jurisdiction" of the use of this label will only have a negative impact on this great nation, for the purpose of furthering the profits of a minority of modern-day Captains of Industry and Robber-Barons, out for their own selfish interests. This should be considered a criminal act, and the perpetrators should be tried for treason! If there is no way to determine whether or not a product is "Made in USA” even after reading a “Made in USA" label, why should we bother putting any label on the product at all? To change present standards for labeling seems a less than intelligible act, perhaps it was “brainstormed" in some executive boardroom. Americans and consumers abroad know what the “Made in USA” label means to them, and expect a certain level of quality and reliability from those products bearing that label. The FTC's proposal will severely diminish the consumer's ability to make a purchasing decision on those products they desire to be genuinely "Made in USA". I see no benefit in this proposal for America or the world, and question why the decision has even been given serious consideration. I support HCR 80 and vehemently oppose the FTC's proposed dilution of the criteria for bearing the “Made in USA” label. Sincerely, John P. Bauer PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE FOR FTC:
cc:Sen. Chris Dodd, Sen. Joe Lieberman, Rep. Nancy Johnson (6th Dist.) Local Union 1040 If there is no way to determine whether or not a product is "Made in USA" even after reading a “Made in USA" label, why should we bother putting any label on the product at all? To change present standards for labeling seems a less than intelligible act, perhaps it was 'brainstormed' in some executive boardroom. Americans and consumers abroad know what the "Made in USA” label means to them, and expect a certain level of quality and reliability from those products bearing that label. The FTC's proposal will severely diminish the consumer's ability to make a purchasing decision on those products they desire to be genuinely "Made in USA". I see no benefit in this proposal for America or the world, and question why the decision has even been given serious consideration. I support HCR 80 and vehemently oppose the FTC's proposed dilution of the criteria for bearing the 'Made in USA" label. Sincerely, John P. Bauer PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE FOR FTC:
cc:Sen. Chris Dodd, Sen. Joe Lieberman, Rep. Nancy Johnson (6th Dist.) |