Senator Collins’ All-American Flag Act Signed into Law
Bipartisan bill requires the federal government to only buy flags made in America
Washington, D.C. – The All-American Flag Act has officially been signed into law. The federal government will now be required to exclusively buy flags that are produced entirely with American-made materials and manufactured completely in the United States.
“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 law will ensure that the symbol of our nation is preserved while supporting American jobs and manufacturers.”
Previously, the federal government could buy flags that contained only 50 percent American-made materials. In 2017, the U.S. imported 10 million American flags including 50,000 from China. 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.
Senator Collins introduced this legislation with Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH).
The complete text of the bill can be read here.
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