Soon, a new requirement will ensure that American flags are not only flown over the land of the free but also produced within it.
The U.S. Congress has approved a measure mandating that the federal government exclusively purchase American flags that are entirely manufactured in the United States. Currently, the U.S. imports millions of American flags, mainly from China, prompting the sponsors of the proposal to advocate for flags to be made in the country they represent.
This initiative, spearheaded by Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, is deemed more than just symbolic by its supporters. They believe that by sourcing American flags domestically, the measure will bolster American jobs and businesses while upholding the integrity of the nation’s most iconic symbol.
Senator Collins remarked, “The American flag is a representation of our unity, strength, and core principles as a nation. To honor its significance, it is essential that the federal government opts for flags that are entirely produced in the United States.”
Advocates of the proposal anticipate that the measure will soon be enacted into law, having been forwarded to President Joe Biden on Thursday. Currently, federal regulations dictate that flags purchased by the government must contain at least half U.S.-made materials. The amendment, labeled the “All American Flag Act,” mandates that flags acquired by the government must be both manufactured and resourced entirely within the U.S.
According to data from federal sources, the import value of U.S. flags exceeded $4 million in 2015, with the predominant share originating from China. In 2017, the U.S. brought in approximately 10 million American flags, of which 99.5% were imported from China. These figures encompass all American flags entering the country, not solely those procured by the government.
Senators Collins and Brown have been advocating for American flags to be domestically produced for several years. While prior attempts to revise regulations to necessitate U.S.-made flags had succeeded in the Senate, they faced obstacles upon reaching the House of Representatives.
