FTC: Made In The USA Comments Concerning Patricia P. Brown--P894219 June 8, 1997 Office of the Secretary Dear Mr. Secretary: As a citizen of the United States of America, I do not want you to go forward with your proposal in loosening the F.T.C. "MADE IN THE U.S.A." labeling guidelines -- reducing the requirement of U.S.A. made content from 98% to 75% in order to carry this label. The F.T.C. should be tightening its regulation on this matter. It is in my opinion, that in order for a product to possess the 'MADE IN THE U.S.A." label, it should have 100% of its content made in the United States -- anything less is dishonest. It also fools a citizen, like myself, who wants to support companies who fully manufacture their product in the United States. I believe in freedom of choice and that freedom would be diminished if the guidelines were liberalized in any way. Because of the “globalization” of the economy, I am finding it harder and harder as it is to locate and purchase products made in the U.S. This disturbs me greatly because I work for a contractor of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The paycheck I receive is ultimately and solely from the taxpayers in the United States. In order to be a taxpayer, one has to be a worker receiving a paycheck; therefore, it is in my best economic interest to keep these United States taxpayers employed by buying products from them because a part of their paycheck comes back to me. Since you work directly for the United States Government, this does apply to you and any other federal employee. Furthermore, I do not understand how Ms. Beth Grossman, the F.T.C. lawyer, came up with the idea that most people in the U.S. would accept 70% U.S. content of a product provided that the product assembly was here. She does not speak for me nor for my family. Additionally, anyone I have ever listened to on this subject also expects that the U.S. content be 100%, no less! Thank you very much. Sincerely, Patricia P. BrownPatricia P. Brown |