Washington, D.C. – The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), a prominent trade association representing domestic textile manufacturers, has lauded the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) for its recent passage of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This significant legislative action includes crucial provisions aimed at reinforcing the “100% made in America” mandate of the Berry Amendment, a cornerstone for the U.S. textile industry defense.
NCTO officials, who advocate for the entire spectrum of U.S. textile industry defense, from fiber production to finished sewn products, noted that the House NDAA bill incorporates vital reporting requirements designed to bolster the Berry Amendment. These measures are expected to enhance compliance and increase government procurement of domestically produced goods.
We applaud the HASC for passing the FY 2027 NDAA and including provisions that, if enacted, will lead to increased government purchases of more Made in America textiles and bolster domestic textile manufacturing and meet the mission-critical needs of our Armed Forces,” stated Kim Glas, president and CEO of NCTO. Glas also acknowledged the leadership of Congressmen Don Davis (D-NC) and Pat Harrigan (R-NC), co-chairs of the House Berry Amendment Caucus, for their efforts in strengthening the amendment this year.
The Berry Amendment plays a critical role, ensuring that the nation’s military is equipped with American-made products whenever feasible. Its robust enforcement not only guarantees that armed forces have access to reliable, high-quality Made in America textiles, but also sustains the vital domestic textile manufacturing base crucial for military readiness and national security.
Comprehensive Reporting Requirements Under the NDAA
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which establishes funding levels and authorities for the U.S. military, includes several important reporting requirements. These directives compel various divisions within the Department of Defense (DOD) to reinforce compliance with the Berry Amendment and broader Buy American requirements for textiles and apparel.
Specifically, the legislation directs the DOD to fulfill the following critical reporting requirements:
- An assessment of waiver usage under the Berry Amendment, alongside an evaluation of supplier verification and auditing practices. It also mandates actions to align contracting strategies with the long-term health of the U.S. textile industry defense industrial base.
- An assessment of the feasibility of narrowing the exception for Berry Amendment small purchases, potentially reducing it from $150,000 to $20,000, both broadly and specifically for textiles.
- An examination of flame-resistant textile production capacity and resilience.
- An examination of potential non-Berry compliant Army service uniforms.
Glas further emphasized the economic and strategic impact of the industry, remarking, “The U.S. textile industry supplies approximately $1.8 billion in advanced textile materials and components to our military each year. These reporting requirements send an important signal that Congress recognizes the strategic value of maintaining a strong domestic textile supply chain and is committed to protecting it.”
NCTO is committed to working collaboratively with both House and Senate lawmakers to ensure these critical provisions are retained in the final FY 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The organization remains dedicated to advancing policies that strengthen the domestic textile industrial base and safeguard military readiness.
