The American flag, waving proudly across the United States, symbolizing ancient glory, is the subject of a pressing question: Who produces the American flag? This question has become the focus of legislators who are pushing for a bill that requires all flags to be “Made in America.” The bill is currently awaiting President Biden’s signature to become law.
According to reports from the Associated Press, the U.S. Congress has passed the “All-American Flag Act,” which mandates that the federal government only purchase American flags that are entirely manufactured in the United States.
This bill was introduced jointly by Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio in June last year. In November of the same year, the bill was unanimously approved in the Senate, and last Monday (July 22), it received unanimous approval in the House. The bill was sent to President Biden last Thursday (25th).
Supporters express hope that this bill will be signed into law expeditiously.
Ms. Collins stated, “The American flag is a symbol of our nation’s identity, resolve, and values. To honor its significance, the federal government should only use flags that are entirely made in America.”
Supporters of the bill also argue that this change is not just symbolic; they believe it will support American jobs and manufacturers while upholding the image of the most renowned flag of the United States.
Currently, federal regulations stipulate that half of the flags purchased by government departments must be made in the U.S. The “All-American Flag Act” breaks this rule, requiring flags purchased by the federal government to be made entirely of American materials and produced domestically.
The U.S. annually imports millions of American flags from overseas, with a majority coming from China. The bill’s proponents say that it is time for the American flag to be born in the country it represents.
Federal data shows that in 2015, the value of American flag imports far exceeded $4 million. Supporters of the proposal say that in 2017, the U.S. imported approximately 10 million American flags, with 99.5% coming from China.