New Jersey-2012-ACR158-Introduced

A Concurrent Resolution memorializing Congress and the President of the United States to enact the "Team USA Made in America Act of 2012."

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

Whereas, The International Olympic Committee will host the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England from July 27, 2012 through August 12, 2012; and

Whereas, Approximately 10,000 athletes representing over 200 countries will participate in 26 different sports throughout the games; and

Whereas, The United States will have 529 athletes, representing 45 states, competing in London, including the winner of the most gold medals in the history of the Olympics, Michael Phelps; and

Whereas, A total of 19 athletes from towns all across New Jersey, including: Atlantic Highlands, Avenel, Basking Ridge, Berlin, Browns Mills, Cherry Hill, Cinnaminson, Delran, East Brunswick, Englewood Cliffs, Fair Haven, Lebanon, Piscataway, Plainsboro, Pt. Pleasant, Sicklerville, Somerset, Teaneck and Westfield will be competing in the 2012 Olympics; and

Whereas, These 19 New Jersey athletes will compete in 12 different sports, including: wrestling, athletics, field hockey, judo, shooting, gymnastics, soccer, swimming, basketball, rowing, tennis and fencing; and

Whereas, During opening and closing ceremonies, all of the athletes representing the United States of America will be wearing a red, white and blue uniform, topped with a jaunty beret, created by the Ralph Lauren Corporation to capture the spirit of the American team; and

Whereas, This year, 2012, is the third Olympics that the Ralph Lauren Corporation has outfitted the U.S. Olympic team and sold similar apparel to the general public through its stores and website; and

Whereas, The Ralph Lauren Corporation manufactured the U.S. Olympic ceremonial uniforms in their factories in China and not in factories in the U.S., thus taking away an opportunity for factories located in the U.S. to produce the uniforms that the U.S. athletes will be wearing in front of the worldwide audience of the 2012 Summer Olympics; and

Whereas, Senator Robert Menendez, along with Senators Lautenberg, Casey, Schumer, Gillibrand, Brown, Blumenthal, Stabenow, Rockefeller, Sanders, Manchin and Franken, introduced S. 3387, the "Team USA Made in America Act of 2012;" and

Whereas, The "Team USA Made in America Act of 2012" requires that the U.S. Olympic Committee adopt a policy that requires ceremonial uniforms purchased or otherwise obtained by the Committee to be produced in the United States; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

1. The Legislature respectfully memorializes the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives to pass, and the President of the United States to approve, S. 3387, the "Team USA Made in America Act of 2012," sponsored by Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, requiring the United States Olympic Committee to adopt a policy that requires ceremonial uniforms purchased or otherwise obtained by the Committee to be produced in the United States.

2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and the President of the Senate and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly and the Secretary of the Senate, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Senate Majority Leader, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, each member of Congress from the State of New Jersey and each member of the Board of Directors of the United States Olympic Committee.

STATEMENT

The International Olympic Committee will host the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England from July 27, 2012 through August 12, 2012. Approximately 10,000 athletes representing over 200 countries will participate in 26 different sports throughout the games.

The United States will have 529 athletes, representing 45 states, competing in London, including the winner of the most gold medals in the history of the Olympics, Michael Phelps. Included in the 529 athletes are 19 New Jersey residents who will compete in 12 different sports.

During opening and closing ceremonies, all of the athletes representing the United States of America will be wearing a red, white and blue uniform, topped with a jaunty beret, created by the Ralph Lauren Corporation to capture the spirit of the American team.

This year, 2012, is the third Olympics that the Ralph Lauren Corporation has outfitted the U.S. Olympic team and sold similar apparel to the general public through its stores and website.

The Ralph Lauren Corporation manufactured the U.S. Olympic ceremonial uniforms in their factories in China and not in factories in the United States, thus taking away an opportunity for factories located in the United States to produce the uniforms that the U.S. athletes will be wearing in front of the worldwide audience of the 2012 Summer Olympics.

United States Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey has introduced S. 3387, the "Team USA Made in America Act of 2012," which requires that the U.S. Olympic Committee adopt a policy requiring ceremonial uniforms purchased or otherwise obtained by the Committee to be produced in the United States.

This resolution memorializes the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives to pass, and the President of the United States to approve, S. 3387, the "Team USA Made in America Act of 2012," to ensure that ceremonial uniforms worn by U.S. athletes are produced in the United States in the future.