POLL: Should U.S. Olympic Team Uniforms Be Made in USA?

Bedecked in red, white and blue, the U.S. Olympic Team is always dressed to impress, but some lawmakers think it would be better if the American athletes' opening and closing ceremony uniforms were made in the USA.

Sporting berets, blazers and pants by American designer Ralph Lauren, the Olympic team will pay a bit of homage to China, who manufactured the garments.

Both Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Congress argued the U.S. Olympic Committee’s decision to dress the team in Chinese-manufactured items was wrong when so many U.S. workers need jobs.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told reporters at a news conference that the Olympic committee "should be ashamed of themselves."

“I think they should be embarrassed," The Washington Post quoted Reid as saying. "I think they should take all the uniforms, put them in a big pile and burn them and start all over again."

In a statement, the Olympic committee defended the partnership with Ralph Lauren, an iconic American company, and reminded lawmakers that the team is privately funded and relies on the support of sponsors.

This is not the first time the U.S. team has worn garments made outside the U.S. According to the story, the team's berets in the 2002 games were made by Roots, a Canadian company.

United States Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun responded to the uproar, saying in a statement that the 2014 winter games' uniforms will be made in the United States.

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Should the team only wear items made in the United States? Does it matter? Vote in the poll and then sound off in the comments section below.

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