Introduced
on Flag Day, Brown’s Bill Requires Federal Government to Buy Flags Made in the
USA
WASHINGTON,
D.C. – This week U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Susan Collins (R-Maine),
Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Rick Scott (R-FL) introduced the All-American Flag
Act, which would require the federal
government to only buy flags completely produced and manufactured in the United
States.
“American flags should be
made in America, period,” Senator Brown said. “Today,
half of the materials that our women and men in uniform fight under can be made
in China. We have to change that. We shouldn’t use taxpayer dollars to purchase
American flags made overseas when American companies – and companies right here
in Ohio - proudly produce the American flag. My bipartisan All-American Flag
Act would ensure that the government buys flags that are entirely produced and
manufactured in America, by American workers.”
Currently, the federal government must buy flags that contain only 50
percent American-made materials. The Senators’ legislation would require the
government to buy flags that are produced entirely with American-made materials
and manufactured completely in the United States. According
to the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Census Data, in 2015 the dollar
value of U.S. imports of American flags was $4.4 million. Of that amount, $4
million of imported flags came from China. In 2017, the U.S. imported 10 million
American flags. Of those, all but 50,000 came from China.
“The American flag serves
as a symbol of our identity, resolve, and values as one people. To honor
its significance, the federal government should only use flags entirely
manufactured in the United States,” said Senator
Collins. “This bipartisan legislation will ensure that the symbol of
our nation is preserved while supporting American jobs and manufacturers.”
Brown and Collins have previously introduced this legislation. This year Manchin and
Scott are joining as original cosponsors.
“Every day, students,
Veterans, soldiers, scouts and Americans pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America. We salute it; we fight for it; we honor it and
celebrate it,” said Senator Manchin. “I am proud to
cosponsor the bipartisan All-American Flag Act to require the federal
government to purchase flags produced entirely on American soil with American
materials, which will create good-paying jobs and spur economic growth across
the country. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support
this important legislation and I look forward to getting it across the finish
line and signed into law.”
“I am proud to join my
colleagues in leading the All-American Flag Act to ensure that American flags,
bought with American taxpayer dollars, flying over the property of America’s
government are American made,” said Senator Scott. “There
is absolutely no reason why taxpayer dollars should go to foreign governments
to buy American flags. This legislation is a no-brainer. When I was governor of
Florida we signed this commonsense legislation into law, and I am proud to
continue this effort in the Senate. I encourage my colleagues to support its
passage.”
Companion
legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep.
Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) and has been cosponsored by Rep. Shontel Brown
(D-OH-11), Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH-13) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL-16).
“When a veteran expressed
his concern to me about American flags made overseas, I worked across the aisle
to require the Defense Department to buy American-made flags,”
Congresswoman Bustos said. “I hear time and again that our veterans are
disappointed that tax dollars are buying American flags made in countries like
China. That’s why this week, as we observe Flag Day, I’m proud to introduce
this bipartisan bill to ensure all American flags that are with federal tax
dollars are made here in America.”
“The American flag is
both a symbol of our nation and its fundamental promises of freedom, justice
and equality for all our people,” said Congresswoman Brown.
“It only makes sense that American flags purchased with taxpayer dollars
should be made right here in America. I am proud to introduce this bill with
Congresswoman Bustos to honor the quintessential American symbol and support
American businesses and workers.”
“There is no
reason the American flag should be made anywhere other than in the United
States of America,” said Congressman Ryan. “In
a competition of a lifetime with China, this legislation provides us an
opportunity to not only reshore jobs and bring our supply chain back home, but
ensure this great American symbol is made in America, by American
workers.”
“As we celebrate Flag Day
this week, it’s fitting that we re-introduce this legislation that ensures
American flags purchased by the government are both produced and manufactured
by American workers here in the United States. This may seem like common sense,
but so many of our American flag products sold here in the U.S. are made in
China and elsewhere. This has to stop,” said Congressman
Kinzinger. “Today, I’m proud to co-lead the All-American Flag Act and look
forward to our continued work to bolster our supply chains and bring
manufacturing home to America.”
Full
text of the Senate legislation can be found
here.
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