I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3934 
To amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to modify 
the tariffs on certain footwear. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 23, 2007 
Mr. CROWLEY (for himself, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Ms. BEAN, Mrs. BIGGERT, 
Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. CARTER, Mr. 
BOREN, Mr. CONAWAY, Mrs. BOYDA of Kansas, Mr. ENGLISH of Penn-
sylvania, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. FORTUN˜O, Mr. CLAY, Mr. GARRETT of New 
Jersey, Mr. CUELLAR, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. HASTINGS of 
Florida, Mr. MARCHANT, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky, Ms. 
HOOLEY, Mr. MCCAUL of Texas, Mr. MATHESON, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. 
MCDERMOTT, Mr. WELLER of Illinois, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. 
GALLEGLY, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. TIAHRT, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. MORAN of 
Kansas, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. ROSKAM, Mr. MOORE of Kansas, 
and Mr. BUTTERFIELD) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Ways and Means 
A BILL 
To amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
States to modify the tariffs on certain footwear. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Affordable Footwear 
Act of 2007’’. 
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respectively, in duties for each dollar earned in the 
automotive and sugar sectors. 
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the elimination of duty on the importation 
of certain footwear articles would provide significant 
benefit to United States consumers, particularly 
lower-income families; 
(2) there is no production in the United States 
of many footwear articles; and 
(3) the elimination of duties on such products 
will not negatively affect manufacturing in the 
United States. 
SEC. 4. ELIMINATION OF DUTIES ON CERTAIN FOOTWEAR. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—The Additional U.S. Notes to 
chapter 64 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the 
United States are amended— 
(1) in note 1— 
(A) in paragraph (b), by striking the pe-
riod and inserting a semicolon; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) The term ‘footwear for men’ covers foot-
wear of American sizes 6 and larger for males and 
does not include footwear commonly worn by both 
sexes; and 
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‘‘(d) The term ‘footwear for women’ covers foot-
wear of American sizes 4 and larger whether for fe-
males or of types commonly worn by both sexes.’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘5. For the purposes of this chapter: 
‘‘(a) The term ‘work footwear’ encompasses, in 
addition to footwear having a metal toe-cap, special-
ized footwear for men or for women that: 
‘‘(i) has outer soles of rubber or plastics; 
‘‘(ii) is of a kind designed for use by per-
sons employed in occupations, such as those re-
lated to the agricultural, construction, indus-
trial, public safety, and transportation sectors, 
that are not conducive to the use of casual, 
dress, or similar lightweight footwear; and 
‘‘(iii) has special features to protect 
against hazards in the workplace (such as re-
sistance to chemicals, compression, grease, oil, 
penetration, slippage, or static build-up). 
‘‘(b) The term ‘work footwear’ does not cover: 
‘‘(i) sports footwear, tennis shoes, basket-
ball shoes, gym shoes, training shoes, and the 
like; 
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‘‘(ii) footwear designed to be worn over 
other footwear; 
‘‘(iii) footwear with open toes or open 
heels; or 
‘‘(iv) footwear, except footwear of heading 
6401, 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 fas-
teners. 
‘‘6. For the purposes of this chapter, the term ‘house 
slippers’ means footwear of the slip-on type intended solely 
for casual indoor use. The term ‘house slippers’ includes: 
‘‘(i) Footwear with outer soles not over 3.5 mm 
in thickness, consisting of cellular rubber, non-grain 
leather, or textile material; 
‘‘(ii) Footwear with outer soles not over 2 mm 
in thickness consisting of polyvinyl chloride, whether 
or not backed; and 
‘‘(iii) Footwear which, when measured at the 
ball of the foot, has sole components (including any 
inner and mid-soles) with a combined thickness not 
over 8 mm as measured from the outer surface of 
the uppermost sole component to the bottom surface 
of the outer sole and which, when measured in the 
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same manner at the area of the heel, has a thickness 
equal to or less than that at the ball of the foot. 
‘‘7. For purposes of subheadings 6402.91.52, 
6402.99.35 and 6404.19.21, the dollar amounts specified 
as the minimum value of a good shall be as follows: 
‘‘In calendar years 2008 through 2013, $20/ 
pair. 
‘‘In calendar years 2014 through 2019, $23/ 
pair. 
‘‘In calendar years 2020 through 2026, $26/ 
pair. 
‘‘In calendar years 2027 and thereafter, $29/ 
pair.’’. 
(b) MODIFICATION OF TARIFFS ON CERTAIN FOOT-
WEAR OF RUBBER OR PLASTICS.— 
(1) Heading 6402 of the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States is amended as follows: 
(A) By striking subheading 6402.19.15, 
and inserting the following, with the superior 
text having the same degree of indentation as 
the 
article 
description 
for 
subheading 
6402.19.05: 
‘‘ 
Other: 
6402.19.17 
For women ..................................
5.1% 
Free (AU,CA, 
CL,D, E, IL, 
J+, JO, MA, 
MX,P, R 
1.5% (SG) 
35% 
6402.19.19 
Other ...........................................
Free 
35% 
’’. 
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(B) In subheading 6402.91.05, by striking 
the matter in the general and special rate of 
duty columns and inserting ‘‘Free’’ in the gen-
eral rate of duty column. 
(C) In subheading 6402.91.16, by striking 
the matter in the general and special rate of 
duty columns and inserting ‘‘Free’’ in the gen-
eral rate of duty column. 
(D) By striking subheading 6402.91.40 
and inserting the following, with the superior 
text having the same degree of indentation as 
the 
article 
description 
for 
subheading 
6402.91.40, as in effect on the day before the 
date of the enactment of this Act: 
‘‘ 
Footwear having uppers of which 
over 90 percent of the external sur-
face are (including any accessories 
or reinforcements such as those 
mentioned in note 4(a) to this 
chapter) is rubber or plastics except 
(1) footwear having a foxing or fox-
ing-like band applied or molded at 
the sole and overlapping the upper 
and (2) footwear (other than foot-
wear having uppers which form a 
point 3 cm above the top of the 
outer sole and are entirely of non- 
molded construction formed by sew-
ing the parts together and having 
exposed on the outer surface a sub-
stantial portion of the functional 
stitching) designed to be worn over, 
or in lieu of, other footwear as a 
protection 
against 
water, 
oil, 
grease, or chemicals or cold or in-
clement weather 
6402.91.42 
Work footwear .............................
6% 
Free (AU,CA, 
CL,D, E, IL, 
J+, JO, MA, 
MX,P, R) 
1.5% (SG) 
35% 
6402.91.43 
Other ...........................................
Free 
35% 
’’. 
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(E) By striking subheading 6402.91.50 
and inserting the following, with the superior 
text having the same degree of indentation as 
the superior text to subheading 6402.91.60: 
‘‘ 
Footwear designed to be worn over, 
or in lieu of, other footwear as a 
protection 
against 
water, 
oil, 
grease, or chemicals or cold or in-
clement weather: 
6402.91.52 
Footwear, except vulcanized foot-
wear and footwear with water-
proof molded bottoms, including 
bottoms comprising an outer sole 
and all or part of the upper, 
where protection against water is 
imparted by the use of a coated 
or laminated fabric, designed to 
be used in lieu of, but not over, 
other 
footwear, 
for 
men 
or 
women the height of which does 
not exceed 8 inches (20.32 cm), 
for other persons the height of 
which does not exceed 7 inches 
(17.72 cm), valued over the dol-
lar amount specified in additional 
U.S. note 7 to this chapter .........
Free 
66% 
6402.91.54 
Other ...........................................
37.5% 
Free (CA, D, 
IL) 2.5% 
(MX,R) 7.2% 
(P) 11.2% 
(JO) 22.5% 
(SG) 26.2% 
(AU) 29.1% 
(MA) 30% 
(CL) 30% 
(BH) 
66% 
’’. 
(F) In each of the following subheadings, 
by striking the matter in the general and spe-
cial rate of duty columns and inserting ‘‘Free’’ 
in the general rate of duty column: 
(i) Subheading 6402.91.90. 
(ii) Subheading 6402.99.04. 
(iii) Subheading 6402.99.12. 
(iv) Subheading 6402.99.31. 
(G) By striking subheading 6402.99.33 
and inserting the following, with the superior 
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as the article description for subheading 
6404.19.20, as in effect on the day before the 
date fo the enactment of this Act: 
‘‘ 
Footwear designed to be worn over, 
or in lieu of, other footwear as a 
protection 
against 
water, 
oil, 
grease, or chemicals or cold or in-
clement weather: 
6404.19.21 
Footwear, except vulcanized foot-
wear and footwear with water-
proof molded bottoms, including 
bottoms comprising an outer sole 
and all or part of the upper, 
where protection against water is 
imparted by the use of a coated 
or laminated textile fabric, de-
signed to be used in lieu of, but 
not over, other footwear, for men 
or women the height of which 
does not exceed 8 inches (20.32 
cm), for other persons the height 
of which does not exceed 7 inches 
(17.72 cm), valued over the dol-
lar amount specified in additional 
U.S. note 7 to this chapter .........
Free 
66% 
6404.19.23 
Other ...........................................
37.5% 
Free (CA, D, 
IL) 
2.5% (MX,R) 
7.2% (P) 
11.2% (JO) 
22.5% (SG) 
26.2% (AU) 
29.1% (MA) 
30% (CL) 
30% (BH) 
66% 
’’. 
(E) In each of the following subheadings, 
by striking the matter in the general and spe-
cial rate of duty columns and inserting ‘‘Free’’ 
in the general rate of duty column: 
(i) Subheading 6404.19.25. 
(ii) Subheading 6404.19.30. 
(iii) Subheading 6404.19.35. 
(iv) Subheading 6404.19.40. 
(v) Subheading 6404.19.50. 
(vi) Subheading 6404.19.60. 
(vii) Subheading 6404.19.70. 
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(viii) Subheading 6404.19.80. 
(ix) Subheading 6404.19.90. 
(x) Subheading 6404.20.20. 
(xi) Subheading 6404.20.40. 
(xii) Subheading 6404.20.60. 
(4) Heading 6405 of the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States is amended as follows: 
(A) By striking subheading 6405.10.00 
and inserting the following, with the superior 
text having the same degree of indentation as 
the 
article 
description 
for 
subheading 
6405.10.00, as in effect on the day before the 
date of enactment of the Act: 
‘‘ 
With uppers of leather or composi-
tion leather: 
6405.10.00 
Footwear for men ........................
8.5% 
Free (AU, BH, 
CA, CL, D, E, 
IL, J+, JO, 
MA, MX, P, R) 
5% (SG) 
20% 
6405.13.00 
Tennis shoes, basketball shoes, 
gym shoes, training shoes and 
the like, for women .....................
10% 
Free (AU, BH, 
CA, CL, D, E, 
IL, J+, JO, 
MA, MX, P, R) 
5% (SG) 
20% 
6405.15.00 
Other ...........................................
Free 
20% 
’’. 
(B) By striking subheading 6405.20.30 
and inserting the following, with the superior 
text having the same degree of indentation as 
the article description for subheading 6405.20, 
as in effect on the day before the date of enact-
ment of the Act: 
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‘‘ 
With uppers of textile materials: 
6405.20.10 
Footwear with outer soles of tex-
tile materials designed to be worn 
over, or in lieu of, other footwear 
as a protection against water, oil, 
grease, or chemicals or cold or 
inclement weather .......................
37.5% 
Free (CA, D, 
IL) 
2.5% (MX,R) 
7.2% (P) 
11.2% (JO) 
22.5% (SG) 
26.2%(AU) 
29.1% (MA) 
30% (CL) 
30% (BH) 
66% 
6405.20.20 
Tennis shoes, basketball shoes, 
gym shoes, training shoes and 
the like, with outer soles of tex-
tile materials, for men or women, 
valued over $6.50 but not over 
$12/pair .......................................
90¢/pr. + 20% 
Free (AU, BH, 
CA, CL, D, E, 
IL, J+, MX, 
P) 
6¢/pr. + 1.3% 
(MX,R) 
27¢/pr. + 6% 
(JO) 
54¢/pr. + 12% 
(SG) 
$1.58/pr. + 
35% 
6405.20.23 
Tennis shoes, basketball shoes, 
gym shoes, training shoes and 
the like, with outer soles of tex-
tile materials, for men or women, 
valued over $12/pair ....................
20% 
Free (CA, D, 
IL, JO, MX, 
P, R) 
12% (SG) 
14% (AU) 
15.5% (MA) 
16% (CL) 
16% (BH) 
35% 
6405.20.25 
With uppers of vegetable fibers ..
Free 
35% 
’’. 
(C) In subheading 6405.20.90, by striking 
the matter in the general and special rate of 
duty columns and inserting ‘‘Free’’ in the gen-
eral rate of duty column. 
(D) By inserting the following new sub-
headings in numerical sequence after sub-
heading 6405.90.20, with the superior texts 
having the same degree of indentation as the 
article description for subheading 6405.90.20, 
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as in effect on the day before the date of enact-
ment of the Act: 
‘‘ 
Waterproof footwear with uppers of 
rubber or plastics and outer soles of 
textile materials the uppers of 
which are neither fixed to the sole 
nor assembled by stitching, riveting, 
nailing, screwing, plugging or simi-
lar processes 
6405.90.25 
With outer soles of felt ...............
12.5% 
Free (AU, BH, 
CA, CL, D, E, 
IL, J+, JO, 
MA, MX, P, R) 
6.2% (SG) 
35% 
6405.90.27 
Other ...........................................
37.5% 
Free (CA, D, 
IL) 
2.5% (MX,R) 
7.2% (P) 
11.2% (JP) 
22.5% (SG) 
26.2% (AU) 
29.1% (MA) 
30% (CL) 
30% (BH) 
75% 
6405.90.29 
Footwear with uppers of rubber or 
plastics and outer soles of textile 
materials designed to be worn over, 
or in lieu of, other footwear as a 
protection 
against 
water, 
oil, 
grease, or chemicals or cold or in-
clement weather ..............................
37.5% 
Free (CA, D, 
IL) 
2.5% (MX,R) 
7.2% (P) 
11.2% (JP) 
22.5% (SG) 
26.2% (AU) 
29.1% (MA) 
30% (CL) 
30% (BH) 
66% 
Footwear with uppers of rubber or 
plastics and outer soles of textile 
materials and incorporating a pro-
tective metal toe cap: 
Covering the ankle: 
6405.90.33 
Valued over $3 but not over 
$6.50/pair ................................
90¢/pr. + 
37.5% 
Free (CA, D, 
IL) 
6¢/pr. + 2.5% 
(MX,R) 
17.2¢/pr. + 
7.2% (P) 
27¢/pr. + 
11.2% (JO) 
54¢/pr. + 
22.5% (SG) 
63¢/pr. + 
26.2% (AU) 
69.9¢/pr. + 
29.1% (MA) 
72¢/pr. + 30% 
(CL) 
72%/pr. + 
30% (BH) 
$1.58/pr. + 
66% 
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6405.90.35 
Valued over $6.50 but not over 
$12/pair ...................................
90¢/pr. + 20% 
Free (CA, D, 
IL) 
6¢/pr. + 1.3% 
(MX,R) 
17.2¢/pr. + 
3.8% (P) 
27¢/pr. + 6% 
(JO) 
54¢/pr. + 12% 
(SG) 
63¢/pr. + 14% 
(AU) 
69.9¢/pr. + 
14% (MA) 
72¢/pr. + 16% 
(CL) 
72¢/pr. + 16% 
(BH) 
$1.58/pr. + 
35% 
6405.90.36 
Valued over $12/pair ...............
20% 
Free (AU, BH, 
CA, CL, D, IL, 
J+, JO, MA, 
MX, P, R) 
12% (SG) 
35% 
Other: 
6405.90.37 
Valued over $3 but not over 
$6.50/pair ................................
90¢/pr. + 
37.5% 
Free (CA, D, 
IL) 
6¢/pr. + 2.5% 
(MX,R) 
17.2¢/pr. + 
7.2% (P) 
27¢/pr. + 
11.2% (JO) 
54¢/pr. + 
22.5% (SG) 
63¢/pr. + 
26.2% (AU) 
69.9¢/pr. + 
29.1% (MA) 
72¢/pr. + 30% 
(CL) 
72¢/pr. + 30% 
(BH) 
$1.58/pr. + 
66% 
6405.90.39 
Valued over $6.50 but not over 
$12/pair ...................................
90¢/pr. + 20% 
Free (CA, D, 
IL) 
6¢/pr. + 1.3% 
(MX,R) 
17.2¢/pr. + 
3.8% (P) 
27¢/pr. + 6% 
(JO) 
54¢/pr. + 12% 
(SG) 
63¢/pr. + 14% 
(AU) 
69.9¢/pr. + 
15.5% (MA) 
72¢/pr. + 16% 
(CL) 
72¢/pr. + 16% 
(BH) 
$1.58/pr. + 
35% 
6405.90.40 
Valued over $12/pair ...............
20% 
Free (AU, BH, 
CA, CL, D, IL, 
J+, JO, MA, 
MX, P, R) 
12% (SG) 
35% 
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