,i  #aacth ,,congress  #ast ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #agjh  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,april #bd1 #bjac    
,ms4 ,jenkins 7for herself1 ,mr4        
,crowley1 ,mr4 ,cleaver1 ,mr4 ,roskam1  
,mr4 ,franks of ,arizona1 ,mr4          
,mulvaney1 ,mr4 ,smith of ,nebraska1    
,mr4 ,conaway1 ,mr4 ,gibbs1 ,mr4 ,polis1
 ,mr4 ,chabot1 ,mr4 ,westmoreland1 ,mr4 
,meeks1 ,mr4 ,turner1 ,mr4 ,cramer1 ,mr4
 ,moran1 ,ms4 ,brown of ,florida1 ,mr4  
,huizenga of ,michigan1 ,mr4 ,matheson1 
,mr4 ,walberg1 ,mr4 ,schrader1 ,ms4     
,bonamici1 ,ms4 ,del,bene1 ,mr4 ,schock1
 ,mr4 ,blumenauer1 ,mr4 ,paulsen1 ,mr4  
,austin ,scott of ,georgia1 ,mr4        
,griffin of ,arkansas1 and ,mr4 ,long7  
introduced the following bill2 which was
 referred to the ,committee on ,ways and
 ,means  ,a ,,bill  ,to suspend         
temporarily the duty on certain         
footwear1 and for other purposes4  #a4  
,short title ,this ,act may be cited as 
the ,affordable ,footwear ,act of #bjac4
  #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the     

following3  7#a7 ,average collected     
duties on imported footwear are among   
the highest of any product sector1      
totaling approximately #b1cjj1jjj1jjj in
 #bjaa and approximately #b1ejj1jjj1jjj 
in #bjab4  7#b7 ,duty rates on imported 
footwear are among the highest imposed  
by the ,united ,states ,government1 with
 some as high as the equivalent of #fg4e
 percent ad valorem4  7#c7 ,the duties  
currently imposed by the ,united ,states
 were set in an era during which high   
rates of duty were intended to protect  
production of footwear in the ,united   
,states4  7#d7 ,footwear produced in the
 ,united ,states supplies only about #a 
percent of the total ,united ,states    
market for footwear4 ,this production is
 concentrated in distinct product       
groupings1 which are not affected by the
 provisions of this ,act4  7#e7         
,footwear duties1 which are higher on   
lower-price footwear1 serve no purpose  
and are a hidden1 regressive tax on     
those people in the ,united ,states     

least able to pay4  7#f7 ,low- and      
moderate-income families spend a larger 
share of their disposable income on     
footwear than higher-income families4   
7#g7 ,the outdoor industry develops     
innovative and high performance footwear
 that promotes healthy and active       
lifestyles through outdoor recreation4  
#c4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense
 of ,congress that--  7#a7 there is no  
production in the ,united ,states of    
many footwear articles2  7#b7 the       
reduction or elimination of duties on   
such articles will not negatively affect
 manufacturing or employment in the     
,united ,states2 and  7#c7 the reduction
 or elimination of duties on such       
articles will result in reduced retail  
prices for a wide range of consumers4   
#d4 ,temporary elimination or reduction 
of duties on certain footwear  7a7      
,definitions ,the ,u4,s4 ,notes to      
subchapter ,,ii of chapter #ii of the   
,harmonized ,tariff ,schedule of the    
,united ,states are amended by adding at

 the end the following3  7#bj7 ,for the 
purposes of headings #iijb4fd4be through
 #iijb4fd4ei3  7a7 ,the term footwear   
for men means footwear of ,american     
men's size #f and larger for males1 and 
does not include footwear commonly worn 
by both sexes4  7b7 ,the term footwear  
for women means footwear of ,american   
women's size #d and larger1 whether for 
females or of types commonly worn by    
both sexes4  7c7 7i7 ,the term work     
footwear means1 in addition to footwear 
for men or footwear for women having a  
metal toe-cap1 footwear for men or for  
women that--  7,a7 has outer soles of   
rubber or plastics2  7,b7 is of a kind  
designed for use by persons employed in 
occupations1 such as those related to   
the agricultural1 construction1         
industrial1 public safety or            
transportation sectors1 that are not    
conducive to the use of casual1 dress1  
or similar lightweight footwear2 and    
7,c7 has special features to protect    
against hazards in the workplace 7such  

as resistance to chemicals1 compression1
 grease1 oil1 penetration1 slippage1 or 
static build-up74  7ii7 ,the term work  
footwear does not include--  7,a7 sports
 footwear1 tennis shoes1 basketball     
shoes1 gym shoes1 training shoes and the
 like2  7,b7 footwear designed to be    
worn over other footwear2  7,c7 footwear
 with open toes or open heels2 or  7,d7 
footwear 7except footwear covered by    
heading #fdja7 of the slip-on type or   
other footwear that is held to the foot 
without the use of laces or a           
combination of laces and hooks or other 
fasteners4  7d7 ,the term house slippers
 means footwear of the slip-on type     
designed solely for casual indoor use4  
,the term house slippers includes--  7i7
 footwear with outer soles not over #c4e
 mm in thickness1 consisting of cellular
 rubber1 non-grain leather1 or textile  
material2  7ii7 footwear with outer     
soles not over #b mm in thickness       
consisting of polyvinyl chloride1       
whether or not backed2 and  7iii7       

footwear which1 when measured at the    
ball of the foot1 has sole components   
7including any inner and mid-soles7 with
 a combined thickness not over #h mm as 
measured from the outer surface of the  
uppermost sole component to the bottom  
surface of the outer sole and which1    
when measured in the same manner at the 
area of the heel1 has a thickness equal 
to or less than that at the ball of the 
foot4  7e7 ,for purposes of subheadings 
#iijb4fd4bg1 #iijb4fd4ca and            
#iijb4fd4eb1 the dollar amount specified
 as the value of a good shall be as     
follows3  7i7 ,in calendar year #bjac1  
#bb_/pair4  7ii7 ,in calendar years     
#bjad and #bjae1 #bd_/pair4  7f7 ,the   
term waterproof footwear means footwear 
designed to protect against penetration 
by water or other liquids1 whether or   
not such footwear is primarily designed 
for such purposes4  4  7b7 ,amendments  
to ,,hts ,subchapter ,,ii of chapter #ii
 of the ,harmonized ,tariff ,schedule of
 the ,united ,states is amended by      

inserting in numerical sequence the     
following new headings3                 
#iijb4fd4be,sports footwear with outer  
soles and uppers of rubber or plastics1 
having uppers of which over #ij percent 
of the external surface area 7including 
any accessories or reinforcements7 is   
rubber or plastics 7except footwear     
having foxing or a foxing-like band     
applied or molded at the sole and       
overlapping the upper72 the foregoing   
not including footwear for women        
7provided for in subheading #fdjb4ai4ae7
 ,free,no change,no change,on or before 
#ab_/ca_/bjae  #iijb4fd4bf;,footwear    
7other than work footwear or footwear   
designed to be worn over or in lieu of  
other footwear as a protection against  
water1 oil1 grease or chemicals or cold 
or inclement weather7 with outer soles  
and uppers of rubber or plastics1       
covering the ankle1 not incorporating a 
protective metal toe-cap1 having uppers 
of which over #ij percent of the        
external surface area is rubber or      

plastics 7provided for in subheading    
#fdjb4ia4dj7 ,free,no change,no         
change,on or before #ab_/ca_/bjae       
#iijb4fd4bg;,footwear 7other than       
vulcanized footwear and footwear with   
waterproof molded bottoms1 including    
bottoms comprising an outer sole and all
 or part of the upper7 with outer soles 
and uppers of rubber or plastics1 valued
 over the dollar amount specified in    
,u4,s4 note #bj7;e7 to this subchapter1 
whose height from the bottom of the     
outer sole to the top of the upper does 
not exceed #bj4cb cm if for men or      
women1 or does not exceed #ag4gh cm if  
for persons other than men or women1    
designed to be used in lieu of1 but not 
over1 other footwear as a protection    
against water1 oil1 grease or chemicals 
or cold or inclement weather1 and where 
protection against water is imparted by 
the use of a coated or laminated fabric 
7provided for in subheading #fdjb4ia4ej7
 ,free,no change,no change,on or before 
#ab_/ca_/bjae  #iijb4fd4bh;,footwear    

7other than work footwear7 with outer   
soles and uppers of rubber or plastics1 
covering the ankle1 for men or women1   
such footwear which from the bottom of  
the outer sole to the top of the upper  
does not exceed #ac cm or which exceeds 
#ba cm1 or regardless of height is      
slip-on footwear 7provided for in       
subheading #fdjb4ia4ij7 ,free,no        
change,no change,on or before           
#ab_/ca_/bjae  #iijb4fd4bi,tennis shoes1
 basketball shoes1 gym shoes1 training  
shoes and the like 7provided for in     
subheading #fdjb4ia4ij7;,free,no        
change,no change,on or before           
#ab_/ca_/bjae  #iijb4fd4cj;,footwear    
with outer soles and uppers of rubber or
 plastic1 not covering the ankle1 other 
than work footwear or house slippers    
7provided for in subheading             
#fdjb4ii4ca7;,free,no change,no         
change,on or before #ab_/ca_/bjae       
#iijb4fd4ca;,footwear 7other than       
vulcanized footwear and footwear with   
waterproof molded bottoms1 including    

bottoms comprising an outer sole and all
 or part of the upper71 with outer soles
 and uppers of rubber or plastics1      
valued over the dollar amount specified 
in ,u4,s4 note #bj7;e7 of this          
subchapter1 designed to be used in lieu 
of1 but not over1 other footwear1 and   
where protection against water is       
imparted by the use of a coated or      
laminated textile fabric 7provided for  
in subheading #fdjb4ii4cc7 ,free,no     
change,no change,on or before           
#ab_/ca_/bjae  #iijb4fd4cb;,footwear    
with uppers and outer soles of rubber or
 plastics1 other than house slippers    
7provided for in subheading #fdjb4ii4da 
or #fdjb4ii4di7;,free,no change,no      
change,on or before #ab_/ca_/bjae       
#iijb4fd4cc;,footwear with outer soles  
and uppers of rubber or plastics1 other 
than house slippers 7provided for in    
subheading #fdjb4ii4ga or               
#fdjb4ii4gi7;,free,no change,no         
change,on or before #ab_/ca_/bjae       
#iijb4fd4cd ,footwear with outer soles  

and uppers of leather1 covering the     
ankle1 other than footwear for women    
7provided for in subheading #fdjc4ea4ij7
 ,free,no change,no change,on or before 
#ab_/ca_/bjae  #iijb4fd4ce;,footwear for
 men1 and footwear for youths and boys1 
covering the ankle1 valued not over     
#ab_/pair1 such footwear which from the 
bottom of the outer sole to the top of  
the upper does not exceed #ac cm or     
which exceeds #ba cm1 or regardless of  
height is waterproof footwear1 other    
than work footwear1 tennis shoes1       
basketball shoes1 gym shoes1 training   
shoes and the like1 slip-on footwear1   
and other than footwear with waterproof 
bottoms1 including bottoms comprising an
 outer sole and all or part of the upper
 7provided for in subheading            
#fdjc4ia4fj7;,free,no change,no         
change,on or before #ab_/ca_/bjae       
#iijb4fd4cf,slip-on footwear for men and
 footwear for youths and boys1 covering 
the ankle and incorporating waterproof  
footwear bottoms including bottoms      

comprising an outer sole and part of the
 upper2 such footwear with sole         
components1 including any mid-soles but 
excluding any inner soles1 which when   
measured at the ball of the foot have a 
combined thickness less than #ac4e mm1  
the foregoing valued not over #bj_/pair 
7provided for in subheading #fdjc4ia4fj7
 ,free,no change,no change,on or before 
#ab_/ca_/bjae  #iijb4fd4cg;,footwear for
 men1 other than slip-on footwear1 work 
footwear1 tennis shoes1 basketball      
shoes1 gym shoes1 training shoes and the
 like1 valued not over #ab_/pair        
7provided for in subheading             
#fdjc4ia4fj7;,free,no change,no         
change,on or before #ab_/ca_/bjae       
#iijb4fd4ch;,footwear for youth and     
boys1 incorporating a waterproof        
footwear bottom including bottoms       
comprising an outer sole and part of the
 upper1 other than tennis shoes1        
basketball shoes1 gym shoes1 training   
shoes and the like1 and other than      
slip-on footwear 7provided for in       

subheading #fdjc4ia4fj7;,free,no        
change,no change,on or before           
#ab_/ca_/bjae  #iijb4fd4ci;,footwear    
7other than footwear for men or footwear
 for youths and boys7 covering the      
ankle1 valued over #ab_/pair1 such      
footwear of a height which from the     
bottom of the outer sole to the top of  
the upper does not exceed #ac cm1 or    
which exceeds #ba cm1 or regardless of  
height1 is waterproof footwear1 or      
footwear where the difference in height 
between the bottom of the sole at the   
ball of the foot to the top of the      
midsole and from the bottom of the heel 
to the top of the midsole is over #cj   
mm1 other than work footwear and other  
than slip-on footwear 7provided for in  
subheading #fdjc4ia4ij7 ,free,no        
change,no change,on or before           
#ab_/ca_/bjae  #iijb4fd4dj,slip-on      
footwear 7other than footwear for men or
 footwear for youths or boys7 covering  
the ankle2 such footwear with a heel    
over #ae mm in height as measured from  

the bottom of the sole1 or sole         
components 7including any mid-soles but 
excluding any inner soles7 which when   
measured at the ball of the foot have a 
combined thickness less than #ac4e mm1  
the foregoing valued not over #bj_/pair 
7provided for in subheading #fdjc4ia4ij7
 ,free,no change,no change,on or before 
#ab_/ca_/bjae  #iijb4fd4da;,footwear for
 women1 covering the ankle1 valued not  
over #ab_/pair1 such footwear which from
 the bottom of the outer sole to the top
 of the upper does not exceed #ac cm or 
which exceeds #ba cm1 or regardless of  
height is waterproof footwear1 other    
than work footwear1 tennis shoes1       
basketball shoes1 gym shoes1 training   
shoes and the like1 slip-on footwear1   
and other than footwear with only       
waterproof bottoms1 including bottoms   
comprising an outer sole and all or part
 of the upper 7provided for in          
subheading #fdjc4ia4ij7;,free,no        
change,no change,on or before           
#ab_/ca_/bjae  #iijb4fd4db;,footwear for

 persons other than women1 other than   
slip-on footwear1 tennis shoes1         
basketball shoes1 gym shoes1 training   
shoes and the like and other than       
footwear incorporating waterproof       
footwear bottoms comprising an outer    
sole and part of the upper 7provided for
 in subheading #fdjc4ia4ij7;,free,no    
change,no change,on or before           
#ab_/ca_/bjae  #iijb4fd4dc;,footwear for
 men1 valued not over #bj_/pair1 having 
uppers of leather other than pigskin1   
and other than house slippers1 work     
footwear1 tennis shoes1 basketball      
shoes1 gym shoes1 training shoes and the
 like1 and other than footwear with     
uppers having a toe part or thong       
7provided for in subheading             
#fdjc4ii4fj7;,free,no change,no         
change,on or before #ab_/ca_/bjae       
#iijb4fd4dd;,footwear for men1 having   
uppers of pigskin1 other than house     
slippers1 work footwear1 tennis shoes1  
basketball shoes1 gym shoes1 training   
shoes and the like 7provided for in     

subheading #fdjc4ii4fj7;,free,no        
change,no change,on or before           
#ab_/ca_/bjae  #iijb4fd4de,tennis shoes1
 basketball shoes1 gym shoes1 training  
shoes and the like for youths and boys  
7provided for in subheading             
#fdjc4ii4fj7;,free,no change,no         
change,on or before #ab_/ca_/bjae       
#iijb4fd4df;,footwear valued over       
#b4ej_/pair 7other than footwear for    
women2 house slippers2 and tennis shoes1
 basketball shoes1 gym shoes1 training  
shoes and the like7 7provided for in    
subheading #fdjc4ii4ij7 ,free,no        
change,no change,on or before           
#ab_/ca_/bjae  #iijb4fd4dg,sports       
footwear1 tennis shoes1 basketball      
shoes1 gym shoes1 training shoes and the
 like with outer soles of rubber or     
plastics and uppers of textile materials
 7provided for in subheading            
#fdjd4aa4ea1 #fdjd4aa4ei1 #fdjd4aa4fa1  
#fdjd4aa4fi1 #fdjd4aa4ga1 #fdjd4aa4gi1  
#fdjd4aa4ha or #fdjd4aa4hi7;,free,no    
change,no change,on or before           

#ab_/ca_/bjae  #iijb4fd4dh,sports       
footwear 7other than ski boots1 cross   
country ski footwear and snowboard      
boots7 for persons other than men or    
women 7provided for in subheading       
#fdjd4aa4ij7;,free,no change,no         
change,on or before #ab_/ca_/bjae       
#iijb4fd4di,ski boots1 cross country ski
 footwear and snowboard boots for men or
 women 7provided for in subheading      
#fdjd4aa4ij7;,free,no change,no         
change,on or before #ab_/ca_/bjae       
#iijb4fd4ej,tennis shoes1 basketball    
shoes1 gym shoes1 training shoes and the
 like1 covering the ankle1 for men and  
women 7provided for in subheading       
#fdjd4aa4ij7;,free,no change,no         
change,on or before #ab_/ca_/bjae       
#iijb4fd4ea;,footwear with outer soles  
of rubber or plastics and uppers of     
textile materials1 having uppers of     
which over #ej percent of the external  
surface area is leather 7provided for in
 subheading #fdjd4ai4ae7 ,free,no       
change,no change,on or before           

#ab_/ca_/bjae  #iijb4fd4eb;,footwear    
7except vulcanized footwear and footwear
 with waterproof molded bottoms1        
including bottoms comprising an outer   
sole and all or part of the upper7 with 
outer soles of rubber or plastics and   
uppers of textile materials1 valued over
 the dollar amount specified in ,u4,s4  
note #bj7;e7 to this subchapter1 whose  
height from the bottom of the outer sole
 to the top of the upper does not exceed
 #bj4cb cm if for men or women or does  
not exceed #ag4gh cm for persons other  
than men or women1 designed to be used  
in lieu of1 but not over1 other footwear
 as a protection against water1 oil1    
grease or chemicals or cold or inclement
 weather1 and where protection against  
water is imparted by the use of a coated
 or laminated textile fabric 7provided  
for in subheading #fdjd4ai4bj7 ,free,no 
change,no change,on or before           
#ab_/ca_/bjae  #iijb4fd4ec;,footwear for
 men1 with outer soles of rubber or     
plastics and uppers of vegetable fibers1

 other than house slippers 7provided for
 in subheading #fdjd4ai4be7;,free,no    
change,no change,on or before           
#ab_/ca_/bjae  #iijb4fd4ed;,footwear    
with outer soles of rubber or plastics  
and uppers of textile materials 7except 
footwear with uppers having a toe part  
or thong7 7provided for in subheading   
#fdjd4ai4cf1 #fdjd4ai4cg or             
#fdjd4ai4ci7;,free,no change,no         
change,on or before #ab_/ca_/bjae       
#iijb4fd4ee;,footwear for women1 with   
outer soles of rubber or plastics and   
uppers of textile materials1 other than 
house slippers 7provided for in         
subheading #fdjd4ai4eb1 #fdjd4ai4eg or  
#fdjd4ai4ei7;,free,no change,no         
change,on or before #ab_/ca_/bjae       
#iijb4fd4ef;,footwear with outer soles  
of rubber or plastics and uppers of     
textile materials 7provided for in      
subheading #fdjd4ai4fa1 #fdjd4ai4fi1    
#fdjd4ai4gb1 #fdjd4ai4gg1 #fdjd4ai4gi1  
#fdjd4ai4hb1 #fdjd4ai4hg1 #fdjd4ai4hi or
 #fdjd4ai4ij7;,free,no change,no        

change,on or before #ab_/ca_/bjae       
#iijb4fd4eg;,footwear with uppers of    
leather or composition leather1 for men 
7provided for in subheading             
#fdje4aj4jj7;,free,no change,no         
change,on or before #ab_/ca_/bjae       
#iijb4fd4eh;,footwear with uppers of    
textile materials1 other than with soles
 and uppers of wool felt 7provided for  
in subheading #fdje4bj4ij7 ,free,no     
change ,no change,on or before          
#ab_/ca_/bjae  #iijb4fd4ei;,footwear not
 elsewhere provided for in chapter #fd  
7provided for in subheading             
#fdje4ij4ij7;,free,no change,no         
change,on or before #ab_/ca_/bjae  4    
#e4 ,effective date ,this ,act and the  
amendments made by this ,act shall--    
7#a7 take effect on the #aeth day after 
the date of the enactment of this ,act2 
and  7#b7 apply to articles entered1 or 
withdrawn from warehouse for            
consumption1 on or after such #aeth day4