HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) -
United States Rep. Chris Murphy has some tough questions for the Transportation Security Administration after learning that the agency bought bracelets commemorating the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 from China.
Murphy sent a letter to TSA Administrator John Pistole after Bloomberg News reported on Jan 10 that the agency purchased the Chinese-made bracelets, which cost United States taxpayers $17,500.
"While your goal of commemorating the tragic events of that day is one we all share as Americans, this purchase could have, and should have, been done in a way that supports American jobs," Murphy wrote in the letter."
Murphy, the founder and co-chairman of the Congressional Buy American Caucus, wants stronger federal procurement laws that will keep tax money from being sent overseas and to support jobs in the United States.
"By awarding this contract to a company who imported the items from China -- a country with questionable labor practices, a dismal record of human rights violations and a manipulated currency -- your agency denied American workers the opportunity to manufacture these commemorative bracelets with pride here in the United States," Murphy wrote.
The TSA bought 70,000 bracelets from the Chinese company because officials said the four American firms that domestically manufacture them could not deliver the product by the delivery date.
"The 10 year anniversary of September 11th, 2001 was not something that should have taken TSA by surprise, and you should have solicited bids in a more timely fashion so that the American firms could have met your needs. If given the opportunity to compete on a level-playing field, I have no doubt that any of the four companies that produce these bracelets here in the United States could have met TSA's requirements," Murphy said in the letter.
Murphy went on to say that he hopes the agency can correct the contracting decision and ones like it in the future to ensure American manufacturers can help the TSA achieve its goals.
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