Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced on July 3, 2019, that they had introduced the All-American Flag Act. The bill would require federal agencies to buy only USA flags made in the USA from USA-made materials.
What the bill does
- Bill number: S. 1963, introduced June 25, 2019, and referred to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
- Requirement: Agencies could not use funds to buy a USA flag unless it was manufactured in the USA from materials grown, produced or manufactured in the USA.
- Exception: The rule would not apply if flags of satisfactory quality and sufficient quantity could not be bought as needed at market prices.
- Current law: The government must buy flags made from at least 50% USA-made materials.
“The American flag serves as a symbol of our identity, resolve, and values as one people,” Collins said. “To honor its significance, the federal government should only use flags entirely manufactured in the United States.”
Similar bills passed the Senate in 2011 and 2014 but stalled in the House. Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) introduced a House companion. Sens. Joe Manchin and Rick Scott later joined as cosponsors. S. 1963 did not get a vote. A later version became law in 2024, covered in our July 2024 post.
FAQ
What would the bill require?
Federal agencies could buy only USA flags made in the USA from USA-made materials, with an exception if such flags were not available at market prices.
What does current law require?
Flags bought by the government must be made from at least 50% USA-made materials.
Did the 2019 bill pass?
No. S. 1963 was referred to committee and did not get a vote. A later version became law in 2024.
Source & credit
Source: Office of Sen. Susan Collins, July 3, 2019: press release.
Also: S. 1963 on Congress.gov; ABC7 New York: report.