Meng: Flags Purchased by Federal Government Should be Made in America

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) helped introduce bipartisan legislation today that would require all American flags purchased by the federal government to be made in the United States.

Under the All-American Flag Act, any U.S. flag acquired by the federal government must contain 100 percent American-made materials entirely manufactured in the United States. Current law requires the federal government to purchase flags made of only 50 percent American-made materials.

"This legislation is common sense," said Meng. "An American flag should be entirely made in America. There are many American businesses that manufacture American flags affordably, and the federal government should spend our tax dollars on flags from these businesses, not on flags made overseas. We must honor our veterans and support our businesses by only purchasing American-made American flags."

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Census data, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags in 2013 was $4 million.

"Although we in government cannot fully control where all American flags are made, we can control where American flags purchased by the United States government are made," added Meng.

The legislation is similar to a bill Meng sponsored when she was a member of the New York State Assembly. The measure, which was entitled the New York State All-American Flag Act, required New York State to only purchase flags entirely made in America.