Senate passed bipartisan bill year ago; House has not acted to keep flags made in USA
Washington, D.C. - On the eve of the Independence Day holiday, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (Ohio) - the authors of the All-American Flag Act, which would require the federal government to purchase 100 percent made-in-America flags - urged the leaders of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to move the bill forward to it can be brought to the House floor for a vote.
Braley said, "It's just common sense: Americans' tax dollars should be used to purchase flags made in the USA. The Senate has agreed in a bipartisan vote. Now, it's time for the House to act. I urge the Oversight Committee to protect America's greatest symbol and support manufacturers right here in the United States by immediately considering this bill."
Brown said, "Under current law, the American flags that fly from federal buildings?on July 4th and every day of the year?may be up to fifty percent foreign-made. Many American companies, including Annin and Company in Coshocton, proudly produce the American flag right here in the United States. With strong bipartisan support in the Senate, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee should move to discharge the All-American Flag Act and send it to the House floor for a vote. We should do all we can to support American manufacturing and job creation, especially when it comes to our most treasured of patriotic symbols?the American flag."
The All-American Flag Act unanimously passed the US Senate in July 2011, but the House has failed to schedule a vote for its companion bill, H.R. 1344, which was introduced by Rep. Braley. The bill must be approved by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in order to be voted on by the full House. Two years ago, the Braley-authored All-American Flag Act passed the House unanimously.
For more information on the All-American Flag Act, visit: http://go.usa.gov/wWU
Braley and Brown made the request in a letter to Oversight Committee leadership. The text of that letter follows:
The Honorable Darrell Issa
Chairman
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
2157 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Elijah Cummings
Ranking Member
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
2471 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Chairman Issa and Ranking Member Cummings:
As we approach the 4th of July, we are reminded of the importance of the American flag as the symbol of our nation. Unfortunately, current law requires the government to purchase flags made of only 50 percent American-made materials. We strongly believe that U.S. flags should consist of only American made materials.
That is why we introduced the All-American Flag Act. This bill would require the federal government to purchase flags that contain 100 percent American-made materials. In the 111th Congress, both of you supported this legislation when it was passed out of the Oversight Committee. The bill was later adopted by voice-vote in the House. Last July, the Senate unanimously passed the All-American Flag Act.
As the two primary authors of this legislation, we ask that the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee discharge the Senate passed version of the All-American Flag Act so it can be brought to the House floor for a vote. Given that this legislation has already been passed unanimously by both the House and Senate, we believe that now is the time to see that this legislation is signed into law.
American flags should be made in America using American products. Allowing the government to purchase flags with foreign-made materials is disrespectful to our country. We urge you to discharge the All-American Flag Act from the House Oversight Committee so it can be brought to the House floor for a vote.
Thank you for your attention to our request. We ask that you please reply to our letter within 10 business days with an answer on whether or not the Committee will discharge this legislation. Please feel free to contact either of us if we can provide further assistance.
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