All-American Flag Act

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin) and the gentlewoman from South Carolina (Ms. Mace) for working on this effort with me.

Today, I ask this governing body: What is the most American thing that Members can think of? Is it George Washington, who looks over us? Is it the dome of the Capitol Building, under which Members do the work of the people?

Mr. Speaker, I believe the most American thing is the symbol that flies on my home in Moline, Illinois, on top of this important building, on the back of every ship that carries our military, and which is displayed so proudly behind the Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here and see S. 1973, the All- American Flag Act, considered on the floor of the House of Representatives. Under current law, the government can buy flags that contain just 50 percent American-made materials, but I believe that American flags, paid for by American taxpayers, should be entirely made in the greatest country in the world, by the greatest workers in the world.

My bill would require the Federal Government to buy flags that are manufactured 100 percent in the United States, with materials 100 percent grown or produced in the United States.

In 2021, my home State of Illinois passed a law that all American flags purchased must be American made.

This legislation will bring the values of our neighbors back home to the Federal Government. Whether it is over a post office in Kewanee, Illinois, accompanying our troops to battle, or on a casket of a fallen hero, our patriotism has to begin and end here in this country.

In 1906, George Cohan wrote ``You're a Grand Old Flag.'' The song's signature lyric, ``She's a Grand Old Flag,'' came from a conversation that he had with a Civil War veteran who fought at Gettysburg.

My bill will ensure that all grand flags are made in this grand land. I am proud to see my bill come to the House floor today, and I urge all of my patriotic colleagues to be proud of their support for its swift passage and for our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1973) to require the purchase of domestically made flags of the United States of America for use by the Federal Government.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, American flags should be made in America. This bill ensures that the Federal Government buys U.S. flags that are made from 100 percent American materials.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Census data, in 2017, the U.S. imported 10 million American flags. Of those, all but 50,000 came from China.

The Department of Defense and individual military departments are already generally required to buy American flags that are made entirely of U.S. materials, but civilian agencies do not have such restrictions. The All-American Flag Act applies current DOD requirements and exceptions across the government.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the House companion bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill to ensure American flags are made right here in America. This is something every American can get behind.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support sending this legislation to the President's desk, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the American flag should be made in the USA. The All- American Flag Act is a bipartisan bill that I invite all Members to support. It would require all Federal agencies to purchase American flags that are manufactured right here in the USA, using materials grown and produced in the United States.

Under current law, this requirement applies only to the DOD and VA. This bill would extend it to all Federal agencies. I commend the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Sorensen), our distinguished colleague and the author of the House bill, for his diligent and important work on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Sorensen).

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation offered by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Sorensen), and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 197, S. 1973.

I further ask that the committee-reported amendment be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.