Ohio bill favors clothes made in America

Special to The Vindicator

COLUMBUS

State agencies would be blocked from buying uniforms that are made overseas under legislation introduced in the Ohio Senate.

Sen. Charleta Tavares, D-Columbus, wants to ensure the offices are spending public funds on clothing made in the United States.

The short legislation states simply, “No state agency shall purchase or otherwise receive any uniforms or other apparel articles unless the textiles, materials and supplies used in the uniforms or other apparel articles are entirely grown, produced or manufactured in the United States.”

State agencies and public colleges and universities would be covered by the requirement.

Tavares said the bill would not ban foreign clothing from entering the state.

“What this bill would do is require state agencies to purchase American-made products, which could lead to more jobs and potentially benefit local businesses,” she told the Senate’ State Government Oversight and Reform Committee Tuesday, where the bill had its first hearing.

Comparable legislation has been introduced at the federal level by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Cleveland.