Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
A bill to require the Secretary of Defense to issue regulations requiring that optional combat boots worn by members of the Armed Forces wear be made in the United States, and for other purposes.
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill requires the Secretary of Defense to create new regulations regarding optional combat boots worn by members of the Armed Forces. Under these rules, optional combat boots worn as part of a required uniform must be entirely manufactured in the United States. Furthermore, the boots must be made of materials that are grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced within the United States. The bill also provides for potential exemptions based on specific Department of Defense needs or medical necessity.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +5
Is this likely to create jobs?
The requirement for domestic manufacturing may increase jobs within the U.S. footwear and textile industries.
- Scored +3
Would business owners be better off under this?
U.S. manufacturing businesses benefit from the domestic-only requirement.
- Scored +3
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
The bill provides medical exemptions to accommodate physiological needs.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this make trade with other countries easier?
The domestic mandate could potentially impact trade relationships by restricting imported goods.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Medical Relief: The bill includes a medical exemption that allows members of the Armed Forces to wear optional combat boots that are medically necessary to meet a unique physiological need (Section 1(c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Restrictions on Footwear Choices: Members of the Armed Forces may face restrictions on which optional combat boots they can wear as part of a required uniform, as the bill prohibits boots that are not entirely manufactured in the United States with specific domestic materials (Section 1(a)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — U.S. manufacturing businesses benefit from the domestic-only requirement. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill provides medical exemptions to accommodate physiological needs. Would union members be better off under this? — Domestic manufacturing mandates often support unionized labor sectors.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The requirement for domestic manufacturing may increase jobs within the U.S. footwear and textile industries. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Domestic manufacturing mandates can stimulate local economic activity.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill empowers the Secretary of Defense to regulate specific uniform components.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The medical exemption protects the needs of those with unique physiological or physical requirements.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this make trade with other countries easier? — The domestic mandate could potentially impact trade relationships by restricting imported goods.
- 6/26/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Susan CollinsRepublican · Maine
Angus KingIndependent · Maine