Bill Overview
Title: All-American Flag Act
Description: This bill prohibits agencies from using funds to procure a U.S. flag unless such flag has been manufactured in the United States from materials that have been U.S. grown, produced, or manufactured. The bill specifies exceptions to this prohibition, including an exception if flags of satisfactory quality and sufficient quantity cannot be procured as needed at market prices.
Sponsors: Rep. Bustos, Cheri [D-IL-17]
Target Audience
Population: People connected with the manufacturing and procurement of U.S. flags
Estimated Size: 9000000
- The bill affects businesses involved in the manufacturing of U.S. flags. This includes textile mills that produce the material, manufacturers of the flags themselves, and companies involved in the supply chain of these products.
- Consumers and purchasing agencies that require U.S. flags will be impacted as their options might change and potentially increase in costs due to the sourcing requirements.
- The bill exclusively applies to the manufacturing and production within the United States, affecting domestic industries and not international ones.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily impacts the manufacturing sector within the U.S. that is involved in the production of flags. This includes fabric producers, flag manufacturers, and associated supply chains. These businesses might see an uptick in demand due to the requirement for domestically sourced materials.
- Government procurement officials could face challenges sourcing flags if domestic production cannot meet demand either in quality or quantity, potentially impacting their operations.
- Retailers selling flags may need to adjust their supply chains to adhere to policy requirements, possibly resulting in higher costs being passed to consumers.
- The general U.S. population may not be significantly impacted unless they specifically are involved in or reliant on agencies that procure flags for display or events.
Simulated Interviews
Textile Mill Worker (North Carolina)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a good opportunity for job stability in our area. We already produce materials for flags.
- It also encourages more opportunities for local businesses and might improve our town's economy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Federal Procurement Officer (California)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This will make my job more challenging as domestic options can be limited and more expensive.
- However, it can help assure quality and support local industries.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Flag Manufacturer (Texas)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could mean more business for us because flags will have to be sourced domestically.
- The cost of raw materials might increase, which could be a challenge for our budget constraints.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Retailer (New York)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Higher flag costs could mean less profit for my business unless customers are willing to pay more.
- It's important to source domestic products, but we have to manage price expectations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
University Student (Ohio)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't think this policy affects me directly except as a citizen interested in domestic policy.
- It's a good step towards boosting American production, but I hope it doesn't inflate costs unnecessarily.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired School Teacher (Illinois)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm supportive of this policy because I believe in promoting American manufacturing.
- However, if it makes flags too expensive, local events may suffer due to budget limits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Warehouse Manager (South Carolina)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased demand for domestic flags could mean a decrease in my work with imported materials.
- In the short term, it might limit our business but opens opportunity for domestic partnerships.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Bank Teller (Florida)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm indifferent about the flag policy because it doesn't touch my career or interests directly.
- I understand its importance, but on a personal level, it seems distant.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Supply Chain Analyst (Minnesota)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could increase complexity in supply chains due to stricter sourcing requirements.
- It aligns with sustainability practices, potentially creating long-term benefits for local ecosystems.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Operations Manager (Virginia)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy will require us to renegotiate contracts and shift production priorities which can be cumbersome.
- However, it supports local industries and reduces dependency on imports, which might improve local relations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1500000 (Low: $1000000, High: $2000000)
Year 2: $1300000 (Low: $1000000, High: $1800000)
Year 3: $1100000 (Low: $900000, High: $1500000)
Year 5: $1000000 (Low: $800000, High: $1300000)
Year 10: $900000 (Low: $700000, High: $1200000)
Year 100: $500000 (Low: $400000, High: $700000)
Key Considerations
- Ensuring an adequate supply of U.S.-made flags at competitive market prices may be challenging initially.
- The transition period for domestic manufacturers to fully meet the demand could temporarily increase procurement costs.
- Verification and compliance systems might be necessary, enhancing administrative processes and costs.