Congress Passes New Proposal Regarding American Flag

U.S. Congress has passed a proposal that will prohibit the Federal Government from buying American flags manufactured outside of the United States.

The new proposal, the American Flag Act, was passed with partisan support.

The American Flag Act states, “Any flags purchased by the federal government must be entirely manufactured in the U.S.”

Currently, the Federal Government only requires 50% of the flag’s materials to be from the United States.

Congress approves Ohio US Sen. Sherrod Brown's bill requiring all American flags purchased by government to be made in USA https://t.co/119HExzszF

— WKYC 3News (@wkyc) July 29, 2024

Biden signs Sherrod Brown’s legislation requiring the federal government to buy only U.S.-made American flags https://t.co/MH9qxUXBBr

— Sabrina Eaton (@sabrinaeaton) July 30, 2024

Here’s what The New York Post reported:

It’s a banner day for Old Glory.Congress has passed a proposal that will prohibit the federal government from buying American flags made outside of the US.

The rule change, coined the “American Flag Act” says any flags purchased by the federal government must be entirely manufactured in the U.S. — the current rule only requires 50% of the materials to be homegrown. The bipartisan proposal was co-sponsored by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and has garnered widespread support not just for its symbolism — but its potential to boost American jobs and manufacturers.

The US imports millions of flags every year. In 2017 alone over 10 million of the red, white, and blues were produced overseas — 99.5% of them in China, supporters of the proposal said.

Congress has passed a bill introduced by Maine Senator Susan Collins that requires all American flags flown by the federal government be manufactured in the U.S. https://t.co/c3pSeWOoKB

— CBS 13 News (@WGME) July 30, 2024

Per Senate.gov:

Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that his bipartisan All-American Flag Act was signed into law.

The law requires the federal government to only buy American flags completely produced and manufactured in the United States, with 100 percent American-made materials.

Earlier this week, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the legislation. In November 2023, the Senate unanimously passed Brown’s legislation after the bill passed with a bipartisan vote out of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

“American flags – bought with American taxpayer dollars – should be made in America, period. And now they will be,” said Brown. “Because of our years of effort, American flags bought by the federal government will be produced and manufactured in America, by American workers with American materials. The flags that fly over federal buildings and military bases will now be completely American made. And the flags given to families honoring their loved one’s service and sacrifice for our country will finally be completely made in America.”

Brown long led efforts to ensure American flags are American-made. He first introduced the bill in 2011 and the Senate quickly passed it. Brown reintroduced it in 2013 and the Senate again passed the legislation. Brown continued to introduce his All American Flag Act and in 2023, the Senate passed the bill for the third and final time.

Prior to Brown’s legislation, the federal government was only required to buy flags that contain just 50 percent American-made materials, meaning half of the materials in flags flown at our military bases and other federal buildings can be made in China. The law now requires 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.