During debate on the 2004 defense authorization bill, Senator Mark Dayton (D-MN) proposed an amendment which would have instructed the Defense Department to purchase U.S.-made military hardware and supplies whenever possible. The Dayton measure, it should be noted, would not mandate military expenditures on U.S.-made goods if foreign products of higher-quality were available. Progressives supported the Dayton amendment because, in their estimation, purchasing American-made military equipment was a sound policy to protect U.S. jobs. In the tough economic climate, Progressives pointed out, efforts should be undertaken to invest in domestically-produced goods when those goods are of equal or better quality than those produced abroad. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) argued that the Dayton amendment could encourage military expenditures on products that are inferior to foreign-made goods and proposed changing the Dayton amendment to allow military investments in equipment manufactured by our NATO allies. Progressives opposed McCain's measure; they argued that the Dayton amendment would only encourage, not require, the military to buy U.S.-made products. The McCain amendment narrowly passed the Senate on a 50-48 vote.