H.R. 4159 — To require the Secretary of Defense to issue regulations requiring that optional combat boots worn by members of the Armed Forces wear be made in America, and for other purposes.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, not later than 730 days after the date of enactment, to issue regulations prohibiting any member of the armed forces from wearing optional combat boots (i.e., combat boots not furnished by the Secretary of Defense) as part of a required uniform unless the boots are entirely manufactured in the United States and entirely made of (1) materials grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the United States and (2) components manufactured entirely in the United States from such materials. (These requirements extend Berry Amendment restrictions—under 10 U.S.C. §4862, which generally limits Department of Defense procurement of clothing and textiles to domestic sources—to the wearing of such optional footwear.) It further authorizes a Secretary concerned to waive the prohibition for optional combat boots designed for a specific Department of Defense use or need upon a determination of unavailable domestic supply under the Berry Amendment availability exception (10 U.S.C. §4862(c)); provides a medical exemption for boots necessary to meet a member's unique physiological need; and defines key terms including armed forces, Secretary concerned, optional combat boots, and required uniform.