Congressman Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL) Introduces Legislation to Keep Friend or Foe Accessories Out of the Hands of our Enemies

Bill would codify into law that it is illegal to possess, purchase or sell Identification Friend or Foe Items

Washington, DC – Congressman Kendrick B. Meek introduced legislation today requiring the Department of Defense (DOD) to provide notice anywhere that the Department authorizes the private sale of surplus or used military items and that the possession, purchase, or sale of Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) items is punishable by law. The bill makes it a Class B Misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail, to possess IFF items or transact business related to these items. It would also be a crime to counterfeit the accessories for personal or retail use.

"Glo-tape patches and other military items designated as Identification Friend or Foe are designed to allow our troops to identify each other in poor lighting and other inclement conditions. In the hands of our enemies, these patches could allow for infiltration in our ranks and expose our troops to unimaginable harm," said Congressman Meek. "That is a nightmarish situation we cannot allow to occur."

Between August and October of 2006, 4,800 used combat uniforms bearing "glo-tape" patches were inadvertently sold despite a determination by a Defense Department office in July of that year that the patches had to be removed and destroyed before the uniforms could be put on sale. A year later, barely 350 of the uniforms and patches have been returned. The availability of these items on the black market has the potential to cost U.S. military lives.

IFF items are listed by the military as requiring complete demilitarization, and are not to be sold to the public. Yet, there is currently no enforcement procedure to ensure that persons possessing these items illegally return them to the Department of Defense.

An investigation in June of 2007 by Newsweek determined that IFF items were easily obtained at retailers in several areas of the United States without consequence (See article attached). The article was published in Newsweek on July 16^th.

U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek represents the 17^th Congressional District of Florida which includes parts of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. He serves on the House Committee on Armed Services and is the lone Floridian sitting on the House Committee on Ways and Means. He serves as the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

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