Posted on Mon, Jul. 07, 2003
`Buy American' being pushed for the Pentagon
TECH PRODUCTS WOULD FAIL REQUIREMENTS, INDUSTRY SAYS
By Heather Fleming Phillips
Mercury News Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON - Patriotism is sweeping the halls of Congress after the fight against terrorism and Iraq. So what better way to promote U.S. industry and protect the homeland than requiring the Pentagon to purchase more American products?
At least that's the intent of legislation passed by the House last month. The 2004 Defense Authorization Bill would strengthen ``buy American'' laws, requiring the Pentagon to purchase products with at least 65 percent U.S.-made parts. Current regulations on Pentagon purchases require that at least 50 percent of a product's components be made domestically.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-San Diego, is the force behind the latest ``buy American'' legislation. ``Having a dependency on foreign countries for our military resources is not in the best interest of America's national security policy,'' explained Hunter spokesman Michael Harrison.
But the technology industry says the requirement is impractical, even ludicrous, because what tech product today does not have a significant amount of foreign-made parts? (snip/...)
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/business/6248859.htm