Federal Trade Commission
Received Documents
July 8, 1996
P894219
B18354900334

                  CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
                     HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                          104TH CONGRESS
                   COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS

                          June 25, 1996

Dear Chairman Pitofsky:

It is my understanding that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is still receiving comments up until
June 30 on its review of the standard for making "Made in the U.S.A.!' advertising or labeling claims
(FTC File No. P894219).  I want to make my position absolutely clear: it's only common sense that
when a company voluntarily says its product is "Made in U.S.A.," it should mean all or virtually all
of the components and materials have been produced in the United States.  It's that simple. 
Compromising the current standard would punish those companies, especially small firms, which have
made conscious decisions to buy from other U.S. suppliers and employ U.S. workers.

Many consumers base their purchasing decision on the origin of the product.  If the "Made in US N'
label is weakened, consumers, will have little basis upon which to choose truly American made
products.  The FTC 
already authorizes the use of qualified claims, such as "Made in U.S.A. from foreign and domestic
components." Companies with some, but less than all or virtually all, U.S. content use this label to
make truthful statements about the U.S. content in their product.  Thus, companies lobbying the FTC
to weaken the "Made in U.S.A.!' standard should feel free to use this second label rather than penalize
companies, by confusing consumers through this proposed change in standard, who use all or virtually
all U.S. content in their product.

I believe the FTC's existing rules on "Made in U.S.A.' labeling should remain the same.  It's especially
important for small- and medium-size firms in the United States who want to establish a critical
market distinction to separate themselves from larger multinational firms who may import a significant
percentage of foreign components and materials for final assembly in the United States.
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Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this complex but important marketing issue for
sustaining an increasing the number of jobs in the 16th District of Illinois.

                                   Sincerely,


                                   Donald A. Manzullo
                                   Chairman