Penny Pritzker Sworn in as Commerce Secretary

Penny Pritzker was sworn in Wednesday, June 26th, as the 38th United States Secretary of Commerce.

Happy Canada Day

Monday, July 1st, is Canada Day (French: Fête du Canada) the national day of Canada, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act, 1867, which united three colonies into a single country called Canada within the British Empire. Originally called Dominion Day (French: Le Jour de la Confédération), the holiday was renamed in 1982, the year the Canada Act was passed. Canada Day observances take place throughout Canada as well as among Canadians internationally.

Textile Museum Wins Publishing Award

The American Textile History Museum ("ATHM") is proud to announce that Homefront & Battlefield: Quilts & Context in the Civil War has won a bronze medal in the 2013 Independent Publisher Book Awards for the U.S. History category. The book was published by ATHM in conjunction with its traveling exhibition of the same name. The "IPPY" Awards are conducted each year to honor the year's best independently published books. For more information on the American Textile History Museum, see the website www.athm.org.

Bill Would Eliminate Import Tariffs on Certain Textile Products

In my latest column in the BeaverLake6 Report I alert those who supply material or make finished certain luggage and travel articles that a bill has been introduced in the US Congress to make those finished products eligible for duty-free treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences. Many of the US luggage and handbag manufacturers I've spoken to view this attempt as a direct threat to their industry. Click here to read the column.

Crown Clothing Co. Awarded Marine Men's Poly/Wool Coats Contract

Crown Clothing Co., Vineland, N.J., has been awarded a maximum $7,603,156 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract is for men's poly/wool coats. Location of performance is New Jersey with a June 24, 2014 performance completion date. Using military service is Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 Defense Working Capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM1C1-13-D-1059).

American Apparel, Inc. Awarded Marine Combat Utility Uniform Blouse Contract

American Apparel, Inc., Selma, Ala., has been awarded a maximum $14,975,289 modification (P00012) exercising the first option year period for Marine Corps combat utility uniform blouse. The contract (SPM1C1-12-D-1038) is a firm-fixed-price/indefinite-quantity contract. Locations of performance are Alabama and Mississippi with a June 27, 2014 performance completion date. Using military service is Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 through fiscal 2014 Defense Working Capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

Woolrich Awarded Marine Combat Utility Uniform Trouser Contract

Woolrich, Inc., Woolrich, Pa., has been awarded a maximum $15,869,760 modification (P00010) exercising the first option year period for Marine Corps combat utility uniform trousers. The contract (SPM1C1-12-D-1039) is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract. Locations of performance are Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, and North Carolina with a June 27, 2014 performance completion date. Using military service is Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 through fiscal 2014 Defense Working Capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.