House Bill Requires Defense Department to Buy American Made American Flags

Congressman Mike Thompson announced today passage of a provision requiring all U.S. flags purchased by the Department of Defense be manufactured in the U.S. using only materials grown or manufactured in the U.S.

The announcement from Thompson’s office came on Flag Day 2013.

“Every American flag the DOD buys should be made in America, by American workers with American products,” said Thompson (CA-5) in  a relaese.  “At a time when our manufacturing sector is struggling and millions in our country are out of work, it is a slap in the face to all Americans to have their tax dollars spent on U.S. flags that are made overseas.”   

According to Thompson’s office, the provision applies the rules of the Berry Amendment to American flags.  The Berry Amendment was passed in 1941 and requires the Defense Department to buy American when purchasing certain goods like clothing, food and certain to0ls.

The next stop for the legislation  is the U.S. Senate.