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Trump executive order extends Buy American policy

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President Donald Trump on Jan. 31 signed an executive order asking federal agencies to promote the purchase of American-made materials by contractors working on infrastructure projects that receive federal grants or loans.

Within 90 days, agencies covered by the order must submit their plan as to how they will encourage contractors on such projects to buy domestically-produced products including iron, aluminum, steel and cement. Within 120 days, agencies must also report any “tools, techniques, terms, or conditions” that they have used or believe they should use to promote the agenda outlined in the executive order.

Agency heads were also asked to consider in their reports whether a Buy American mandate on projects that receive federal financial assistance would be feasible.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.constructiondive.com/news/trump-executive-order-extends-buy-american-policy/547507/

 

Military bought thousands of boots labeled ‘Made In the USA’ — but they were from China

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Five executives with a former leading manufacturer of U.S. military boots have been sentenced in federal court for saying the boots were made in Tennessee when they were actually produced in China.

According to an indictment filed in U.S. District Court, the actual Chinese manufacturer of the boots was told to include “USA” on the label of Wellco boot uppers that were then shipped to the U.S. The “Made in China” tags were removed, the indictment says. Soles were affixed to the boots at Wellco’s plant in Morristown, Tennessee, and elsewhere, according to the document.

From 2006 through 2012, the U.S. Department of Defense paid at least $138 million to Wellco for military footwear, according to the indictment.

Keep reading this article at: https://taskandpurpose.com/wellco-execs-military-boots-china/

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Five indicted in TN for fraudulent ‘Made in the USA’ sales to Armed Forces

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A federal grand jury in Tennessee has indicted five individuals for wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, major fraud against the United States, and smuggling in connection with Chinese-made military boots to the U.S. Armed Forces and others.

Justice Dept. sealThese individuals appeared in court on Sept. 15, 2016 and pleaded not guilty.  All were released on bond pending trial, which has been set for Nov. 1, 2016, in U.S. District Court, in Greeneville, TN.

If convicted, they all face a term of 20 years in prison as to each wire fraud charge and smuggling charge, and up to 10 years in prison for the charge of major fraud against the United States.  Additionally, they face fines of up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release as to each count.  The indictment also seeks forfeiture of approximately $8.1 million.

Details of this conspiracy are included in the indictment on file with the U.S. District Court, which alleges that these individuals, all of whom were executives and management at Wellco Enterprises, Inc., conspired from December 2008 through August 2012 to defraud the United States government and other purchasers through a scheme to fraudulently import military-style boots that were made in China into the United States and then deceptively market and sell those boots to the United States Armed Forces, government contractors, and the general public as “Made in the USA,” and as compliant with certain domestic content preference laws, including the Trade Agreements Act and the Berry Amendment.

This indictment is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Air Force Office of Special Investigation, General Services Administration Office of Inspector General, and the Defense Contracts Audit Agency.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until his/her guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtn/pr/five-indicted-fraud-against-us-government-and-other-purchasers-made-usa-marketing

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