On the recordJuly 19, 2012
I rise for the purpose of a colloquy between my friend, the chairman from Florida, and the ranking member, my friend from Indiana. I was planning to introduce an amendment on this issue, an amendment that would require the Department of Defense to buy American flags that are made in America by American workers using American-grown and manufactured materials. Wherever an American flag is flown, it's a symbol of the freedoms men and women throughout our history have marched, fought, and died to secure. {time} 1610 There's no greater symbol of our country, our unity, our freedom, and our liberty than our flag. The Veterans Administration is already required, by law, to purchase 100 percent American-made flags of American-made materials to drape the caskets of each deceased war hero. I understand that there are already requirements prohibiting the Department of Defense from purchasing certain items not produced in the United States, but there are no requirements for the Department of Defense to purchase American-made American flags. I believe it's important that every American flag the Department of Defense buys should be made in America by American workers with American materials. It's as simple as that. At a time when our domestic manufacturing sector is struggling, and millions in our country are out of work, it's a slap in the face to all Americans to have their tax dollars spent on flags that are made overseas.…
