Letters to Senate, House Panels In Support Of TC2 and National Textile Center Funding

The NCC joined with other trade associations representing the overwhelming majority of US fiber, yarn, fabric, apparel and home furnishings workers on letters to the Senate and House subcommittees on Commerce, Justice and Science to express strong support of continued funding for both the Textile/Clothing Technology Corp. [TC] ² and the National Textile Center.

Published: January 25, 2010
Updated: January 25, 2010

January 25, 2010

The Honorable Barbara Mikulski
Chairman
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science
United States Senate
Washington, DC  20510

The Honorable Richard Shelby
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Mikulski and Ranking Member Shelby:

We the undersigned are trade associations that represent the overwhelming majority of our nation’s 500,000 fiber, yarn, fabric, apparel and home furnishings workers.  We are writing to express strong support of continued funding for both the Textile/Clothing Technology Corporation [TC] ² and the National Textile Center (NTC).

As you are aware, funding for these two important national programs has traditionally been included in the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill.  This funding has supported a wide array of basic and applied research programs, as well as demonstration and education efforts designed to enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. textile and apparel industries. These two organizations operate synergistically through unique collaborative structures.  For example, the NTC combines the knowledge and expertise of the nation’s eight leading textile research universities while [TC] ² is a consortium of fiber, fabric and apparel producers, organized labor groups, and retailers. 

Among other things, [TC]² and NTC research has focused on the enhancement of critical industry and national needs, such as protective clothing, biomedical textiles, electronics, alternative energy sources, mass customization, body scanning, 3D product development, the digital supply chain and environmental sustainability.  The goal is to assist in transforming the U.S. textile and apparel sector into a highly flexible supply chain, capable of responding to rapidly changing market demands. As a further testament to the expertise of these programs, our government will be asking [TC] ² to play an important role in helping the Haitian apparel industry recover from the devastating earthquake.

In this period of severe unemployment, we view these national programs as critical in terms of domestic jobs stabilization.  Clearly these programs help the U.S. industry in their ongoing effort to remain globally competitive.  This industry is a primary supplier of employment to women and minority workers, with many of these jobs located in depressed rural areas, as well as major inner cities. Moreover, we believe that these organizations have been excellent stewards of past funding provided by Congress.   For these reasons, we strongly encourage you to assign $10 million for the NTC and $3.5 million for [TC] ².

Thank you for your consideration of our request in regard to the FY 2011 CJS appropriations bill.

Sincerely,

American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA)
American Fiber Manufacturers Association (AFMA)
American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC)
Hosiery Technology Center (HTC)
INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry
Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI)
National Association for the Sewn Products Industry (SEAMS)
National Cotton Council of America (NCC)
National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)
National Textile Association (NTA)
Outdoor Industry Association (OIA)
Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the Americas (SPESA)
The Hosiery Association (THA)
United States Industrial Fabrics Institute (USIFI)

January 25, 2010

The Honorable Alan Mollohan
Chairman
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Frank Wolf
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Chairman Mollohan and Ranking Member Wolf:

We the undersigned are trade associations that represent the overwhelming majority of our nation’s 500,000 fiber, yarn, fabric, apparel and home furnishings workers.  We are writing to express strong support of continued funding for both the Textile/Clothing Technology Corporation [TC] ² and the National Textile Center (NTC).

As you are aware, funding for these two important national programs has traditionally been included in the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill.  This funding has supported a wide array of basic and applied research programs, as well as demonstration and education efforts designed to enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. textile and apparel industries. These two organizations operate synergistically through unique collaborative structures.  For example, the NTC combines the knowledge and expertise of the nation’s eight leading textile research universities while [TC] ² is a consortium of fiber, fabric and apparel producers, organized labor groups, and retailers. 

Among other things, [TC]² and NTC research has focused on the enhancement of critical industry and national needs, such as protective clothing, biomedical textiles, electronics, alternative energy sources, mass customization, body scanning, 3D product development, the digital supply chain and environmental sustainability.  The goal is to assist in transforming the U.S. textile and apparel sector into a highly flexible supply chain, capable of responding to rapidly changing market demands. As a further testament to the expertise of these programs, our government will be asking [TC] ² to play an important role in helping the Haitian apparel industry recover from the devastating earthquake.

In this period of severe unemployment, we view these national programs as critical in terms of domestic jobs stabilization.  Clearly these programs help the U.S. industry in their ongoing effort to remain globally competitive.  This industry is a primary supplier of employment to women and minority workers, with many of these jobs located in depressed rural areas, as well as major inner cities. Moreover, we believe that these organizations have been excellent stewards of past funding provided by Congress.   For these reasons, we strongly encourage you to assign $10 million for the NTC and $3.5 million for [TC] ².

Thank you for your consideration of our request in regard to the FY 2011 CJS appropriations bill.

Sincerely,

American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA)
American Fiber Manufacturers Association (AFMA)
American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC)
Hosiery Technology Center (HTC)
INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry
Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI)
National Association for the Sewn Products Industry (SEAMS)
National Cotton Council of America (NCC)
National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)
National Textile Association (NTA)
Outdoor Industry Association (OIA)
Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the Americas (SPESA)
The Hosiery Association (THA)
United States Industrial Fabrics Institute (USIFI)