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.

HR 8166 requires the Secretary of Defense to issue regulations within 180 days mandating that any combat boots worn by military members as part of their optional gear (not standard-issue uniforms) must be entirely manufactured in the United States. This applies specifically to soldiers who choose to wear their own combat boots beyond the uniform provided by the military. The regulations require all materials (grown, reprocessed, or produced in the U.S.) and components (manufactured entirely in the U.S.) to meet the "made in America" standard. The bill directly affects service members purchasing optional combat boots, changing the requirement for those specific items to be wholly U.S.-made.