Reform DOD Procurement Policies that Benefit Federal Inmates

Each year, the U.S. military spends $2 billion on uniforms, camouflage, and combat footwear for U.S. troops. Under the Berry Amendment which requires that all combat apparel and footwear worn by troops be produced within the United States, the U.S. apparel and footwear manufacturing base outfits American servicemen and women. In recent years, however, these manufacturers have lost significant market share because of unfair preferences to federally-incarcerated inmates through a government-run corporation known as Federal Prison Industries. As it pertains to the procurement of DOD clothing and textiles, FPI’s preference needs to be limited so as to provide more jobs and opportunities for the U.S. domestic manufacturing base. Urgent action is needed to reduce these unfair preferences.