US Congressman blocks sale of Chinese souvenirs

Washington, Jan.23 (ANI): A member of the US House of Representatives, has stopped the sale of over 100,000 dollars worth of souvenirs at the new Capitol Visitor Center because they are made in China.

Representative Robert A. Brady (D-Pa.) doesn't want "Made in China" products sold there, Politico reports.

Brady, who chairs the House Administration Committee, said he has forbidden the CVC from selling plastic Statutes of Freedom and other knick-knacks from China because he feels "very strongly that souvenirs sold in House gift shops should be produced by U.S. companies."

An aide said the CVC is "exploring ways to recoup" the $104,000 it spent on the Chinese-made goods.

The aide said the CVC had been assured that some of the products were made in the United States - and that it hopes to return those to the company from which they were purchased. Other items may be harder to unload, at least at the price the CVC paid for them, the aide acknowledged.

Brady is a long-standing critic of the People's Republic of China. He has offered statements in the Congressional Record praising Taiwan and has supported legislation allowing the president to place sanctions on foreign countries that sell arms to the Chinese military.

He imposed his ban after becoming chairman of the Administration panel, which oversees operations of everything on the House side of Capitol Hill - from the lights to the merchandise in the gift shops. (ANI)