John Plahovinsak
On July 30, 2024, President Joseph Biden signed the All-American Flag Act into law, as Public Law No. 118-74. The bipartisan bill was initially introduced as S. 1973, on June 14, 2023, by Senator Sherrod Brown.
This law prohibits federal agencies from using funds to procure a U.S. flag unless the flag has been manufactured in the United States from materials that have been U.S. grown, produced, or manufactured.
Prior rules and regulations only required the federal government to buy flags that contain half U.S.-made materials and now they are required to be manufactured entirely in the United States.
According to federal statistics obtained from Senator Brown’s Office, the value of U.S. flag imports in 2015 “was well over $4 million.” Most of the American flag imports came from China.
In 2017, the U.S. imported some 10 million American flags, and 99.5% of them came from China. Those statistics include all American flags imported into the country and not just those purchased by the federal government.
A 2023 Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee report found that the United States imported $6.5 million worth of American flags in 2022, with 93% of them coming from China.
“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 Susan Collins, a 2023 co-sponsor of the bill.
Although the U.S. Senate had passed S. 1973 on November 2, 2023, it took Congressman Eric Sorenson to introduce the companion bipartisan H.R. 6206 All-American Flag Act on November 2, 2023.
The bill languished in the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability until it was unanimously passed by the House in July of 2024 and forwarded to President Biden to sign.
“Passage of my bipartisan All-American Flag Act is an example of the government having the backs of our workers by making sure our nation’s proudest symbol is made right here in America,” said Congressman Eric Sorenson.
“Not one piece of a government-purchased American flag should be made overseas, and it is long past time this bipartisan, common-sense idea be made law,” continued Congressman Sorenson. “I am thrilled to see my pro-worker legislation pass the House with such broad support and I look forward to seeing the president sign this bill into law.”
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), after researching the cost of implementing the All-American Flag Act found the cost “would be insignificant.” The CBO noted that “many vendors already meet the bill’s requirements.”
Several state governments already have laws in place requiring that their state governments buy only fully “Made in USA flags,” including Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
The American flag is both a symbol of our nation and its fundamental promises of freedom, justice, and equality for all our people,” said Senator Brown. “It only makes sense that American flags purchased with taxpayer dollars should be made right here in America.
My Opinion: Every day, students, soldiers, scouts, and Americans pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States. In the past, we saluted it, fought for it, honored it, and watched it draped over the caskets of our fallen heroes as they arrived home for their final resting place.
The enactment of the All-American Flag Act into law is not just symbolic. It may encourage and support existing American jobs and manufacturers throughout the United States.
But let’s be clear about this Act, getting this legislation passed in Congress was not as easy as it should have been.
On June 25, 2019, Senator Brown first introduced the All-American Flag Act in the Senate as S. 1963, during the 116th Congressional Session. During the 117th Congressional Session, Senator Brown introduced the same All-American Flag Act bill as S. 4399, on September 28, 2022.
It has been a long battle, but Senator Brown and countless veterans will now know that every thread stitched into the American Flag procured by federal agencies, will be made by hardworking men and women, who have built our country.
I wish to commend the governments of the States of Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Tennessee, and Wisconsin for requiring their state agencies to only buy “Made in America” flags.
However, a bigger question arises, “What about the State of Ohio and the Commonwealth of Kentucky?”
Why don’t they have their state agencies only buy “Made in America” Flags?
BioSketch: John Plahovinsak is a retired 32-year Army veteran, who served from 1967 to 1999. He is the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Ohio’s Hospital Chairman and Adjutant of Chapter #63 (Clermont County). He can be contacted at: plahovinsak@msn.com.