Press release from the office of Rep. Mike Thompson:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressmen Mike Thompson (CA-1) today led a bipartisan group of 22 U.S. Representatives in calling on House Leadership to require that every American flag purchased by the Federal Government be manufactured in the United States, from articles, materials, or supplies that are 100 percent grown, produced or manufactured in the United States. Currently the Federal Government is not required to buy American made flags.

“Every American flag our government buys should be made in America, by American workers with American materials,” said Thompson. “It is a slap in the face to all Americans to have their tax dollars spent on U.S. flags that are made overseas.”

In a letter sent to House Leadership, Thompson requested that language be included in the legislation to fund the federal government into Fiscal Year 2013 that mandates all U.S. flags purchased by the federal government to be made in America, by American workers, using American-grown and manufactured materials.

The proposal is supported by Vietnam Veterans of America and the American Legion.

“The American Legion fully supports this effort and we appreciate Mike Thompson’s leadership in addressing this critical issue that is important to America’s service members, veterans and their families,” said Fang A. Wong, National Commander with the American Legion.

“Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) strongly supports Congressman Thompson’s efforts to work across the aisle to make sure that all American flags purchased by or through the federal government be entirely made in the United States of materials made in the United States,” said Rick Weidman, VVA Executive Director for Policy & Government Affairs.

There is already precedent for placing restrictions on the purchase of American-made American flags. Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs is required to only purchase American made flags for serivcemembers’ funerals.

The full text of Thompson’s letter is below.

August 27, 2012

The Honorable John Boehner
Speaker of the House
House of Representatives
H-232 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Eric Cantor
Majority Leader
House of Representatives
H-329 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Democratic Leader
House of Representatives
H-204 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Steny H. Hoyer
Democratic Whip
House of Representatives
H-148 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Speaker Boehner, Leader Cantor, Leader Pelosi, and Whip Hoyer:

We request that you include language into the Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government into Fiscal Year 2013 to require all U.S. flags purchased by the federal government to be made in America, by American workers, using American-grown and manufactured materials.

Wherever an American flag is flown, it is a symbol of the freedoms men and women throughout our history have marched, fought and died to secure. There is no greater symbol of our country, our unity, our freedom, and our liberty than our flag.

There is precedent to implement these requirements – the Department of Veterans Affairs is already required, by law, to purchase 100 percent American-made flags of American-made materials to drape the casket of each deceased veteran.

We believe that it is important that every American flag the federal government buys should be made in America, by American works, and with American materials; and urge that language to this effect be included in legislation funding the federal government for FY2013. At a time when our domestic 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.

Thank you for your consideration to this matter. We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California’s 1st Congressional District, which includes the Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, and Yolo. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and sits on the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.