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WASHINGTON -- Maine Congressman Mike Michaud, who has long been active on fair trade issues, has joined the chorus of lawmakers upset that U.S. Olympians will be wearing uniforms made in China when they compete in London later this month.

Michaud, D-District 2, co-led a coalition of 59 members of Congress who signed a letter on Tuesday urging the U.S. Olympic Committee to adopt policies to ensure that – presumably in the future – olympians’ uniforms are manufactured in this country. U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-District 1, was also a co-signer.

With the Olympics just a few weeks away, the bipartisan letter is largely symbolic, however. And while the signers expressed their “outrage” that designer Ralph Lauren had the uniforms made in China, they stopped well short of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s comments last week that they should “take all of the uniforms, put them in a big pile and burn them.”

“American manufacturing is critical to the soul of the country,” reads the letter to Scott Blackmun, the Olympic Committee’s CEO. “The U.S. textile and apparel industry provides the backbone to many cities and towns. These American companies are capable of making these uniforms at competitive prices. Hard working Americans should have the privilege of manufacturing uniforms for Team USA.”

On Wednesday, Michaud and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, will also join a group of New Balance employees from Maine and elsewhere who will be on Capitol Hill. The group has concerns about a new potential free trade agreement and changes to tariffs that they fear could hurt domestic manufacturers.

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Open Season targets all of Maine's political wildlife, from Portland city government to the donkeys, elephants and independents stalking the Statehouse and U.S. Capitol.

John Richardson joined the Press Herald in 1990 after working as a reporter in New Jersey. He has covered a variety of beats, including marine issues, the environment and health care. He is now covering politics and focusing on Maine's U.S. Senate race.
John can be reached at 791-6324 or jrichardson@pressherald.com
On Twitter: @jrichmaine

Colin Woodard has covered politics and elections for more than two decades, from Bosnia and Bucharest to Washington, D.C., Augusta, and Portland City Hall. He has written for a wide range of national and international publications and is the author of four books, including "American Nations," a history of North America's regional cultures. He joined the Portland Press Herald at the end of April and covers political finance and lobbying, among other things.
Colin can be reached at 791-6317 or cwoodard@pressherald.com

Susan Cover has covered Maine politics for 10 years and worked in Kansas, Ohio and Rhode Island as a reporter. This year, she is focusing on covering the same-sex marriage debate for MaineToday Media.
Susan can be reached at 621-5643 or scover@mainetoday.com

Michael Shepherd joined MaineToday Media in May 2012 after graduating from the University of Maine in Orono, where he edited The Maine Campus, the student newspaper there. Until November he'll be writing the Truth Test, a recurring feature analyzing political statements and advertising.
Michael can be reached at 621-5632 or mshepherd@mainetoday.com

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