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Congresswoman Carolyn B Maloney Introduces FABRIC Act

The Fashioning Accountability and Building Real Institutional Change (FABRIC) Act of 2022 that addresses issues in apparel manufacturing industry such as exploitation of essential workers, offshoring, and an ageing workforce, was introduced in the US House on 21 July.

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22 July 2022

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  • The FABRIC Act of 2022 will establish a nationwide garment industry registry in the US Department of Labour to increase oversight and transparency within the industry.
  • The Bill would also create a $40 million Domestic Garment Manufacturing Support Programme.
  • The landmark FABRIC Act that originated this May was introduced in the Senate by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
Protecting the garment workforce is a sustainability issue and has direct impacts on environmental sustainability, community development, gender equality and economic prosperity, said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand while introducing the Fashioning Accountability and Building Real Institutional Change (FABRIC) Act of 2022 in the US Senate.
For the Workers Protecting the garment workforce is a sustainability issue and has direct impacts on environmental sustainability, community development, gender equality and economic prosperity, said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand while introducing the Fashioning Accountability and Building Real Institutional Change (FABRIC) Act of 2022 in the US Senate. DSA / Pixabay

Congresswoman Carolyn B Maloney on 21 July introduced the Fashioning Accountability and Building Real Institutional Change (FABRIC) Act of 2022.

The Bill: The Bill addresses issues in the apparel manufacturing industry such as the exploitation of essential workers, offshoring, and an ageing workforce by implementing measures that would advance workplace rights, protections, and manufacturing incentives to solidify the United States as the leader in responsible apparel production.

  • The FABRIC Act of 2022 will establish a nationwide garment industry registry in the US Department of Labour to increase oversight and transparency within the industry, put forth requirements to hold both fashion brands and retailers along with their manufacturing partners jointly accountable for workplace wage violations, set an hourly pay in the garment industry, and eliminate piece rate pay in workplaces in which workers are not already paid a minimum wage or are covered by a union collective bargaining agreement.
  • The Bill would also create a $40 million Domestic Garment Manufacturing Support Programme and establish a 30% reshoring tax credit for garment manufacturers that move their manufacturing operations to the United States.
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Reweaving the fabric of the US garment industry

Garment workers are a cornerstone of the American economy and, for far too long, have faced unsafe working conditions, wage theft, and piecework pay, which often prioritizes fast fashion over the safety of workers. Likewise, the US’s vital apparel manufacturing sectors has faced decades of offshoring pressure and a lack of investments. 

Groundbreaking new workplace protections

The Fashioning Accountability and Building Real Institutional Change (FABRIC Act / S.4312), introduced in the Senate by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) and in the House of Representatives by Caroline Maloney (NY), would protect nearly 100,000 American garment workers and revitalise the garment industry in the United States by improving working conditions, reforming the piece-rate pay scale and investing in domestic apparel production.

What they said

I have long been a champion for the New York and American fashion and apparel industries because of their immense economic and cultural benefits to our City and our nation. But all too often the workers are exploited and wages are too low for people to make a living. Cementing the United States as the global leader in manufacturing apparel responsibly by putting forth worker safeguards, increased oversight and transparency of the industry, and creating incentives to bring jobs back to the US will have positive impacts on our nation’s economy and commitment to the American worker for generations to come.

— Carolyn B Maloney
New York
US House of Representatives

It’s time to take bold action at the federal level to change the fabric of the American garment manufacturing industry. Protecting the garment workforce is a sustainability issue and has direct impacts on environmental sustainability, community development, gender equality and economic prosperity. This May, I originated the landmark FABRIC Act in the Senate to thread the needle of protecting workers’ rights, putting an end to abusive pay rates, and ensuring equitable compensation for garment workers, while also making historic investments in domestic garment manufacturing so we can not only make American, but buy American. I’m so proud to have Congresswoman Maloney, Dingell, and Ross as partners in this effort.

— Kirsten Gillibrand
New York
US Senate

Every worker in this country deserves fundamental rights and protections and the garment industry is no exception. The FABRIC Act will ensure that we follow through on our commitment to dignity in the workplace by establishing additional safeguards and standards for garment workers, increase transparency and accountability, and develop incentives to ensure that these products are made in the United States. We have a duty to deliver for the hard-working men and women that drive our country forward every day and this legislation is one step in ensuring that the United States remains a leader in responsible manufacturing.

— Debbie Dingell
Michigan
US House of Representatives

The FABRIC Act will bring garment manufacturing and textile industry jobs back to North Carolina while improving conditions and compensation for workers in garment factories. I’m proud to introduce this bill with my colleagues, and I look forward to working with them to revitalise and support garment and textile businesses in my home state.

— Deborah Ross
North Carolina
US House of Representatives

 
 
  • Dated posted: 22 July 2022
  • Last modified: 24 July 2022
 
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