WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson’s (CA-5) bipartisan provision requiring every American flag purchased by the Department of Defense (DOD) to be 100 percent manufactured in the United States, from articles, materials or supplies that are 100 percent grown, produced or manufactured in the United States, was passed by the House of Representatives on Thursday.

Thompson's provision passed as part of H.R. 5293, the DOD Appropriations Act of 2017.

The provision previously passed in the last Congress as part of H.R. 3547, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 consolidated appropriations bill, was signed into law by the president in January 2014, and was implemented by the Pentagon in 2015.

Thompson again introduced this provision to ensure its continued inclusion in DOD appropriations.

“I am proud to continue my efforts to ensure that every American flag the DOD buys is made in America, by American workers and with American products,” said Thompson. “This provision is commonsense. The brave men and women who serve our country in uniform should do so under an American-made flag.”

Specifically, Thompson's provision applies the Berry Amendment to the American flag.

The Berry Amendment, originally passed in 1941, prohibits DOD funds from being used to acquire food, clothing, military uniforms, fabrics, stainless steel and hand or measuring tools that are not grown or produced in the United States, except in rare exceptions.

Thompson's provision applies the same rules for the DOD's acquisition of American flags, which previously were not listed as a covered item.

Precedent already exists for such a provision. Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs is required to only purchase U.S.-made American flags for servicemembers' funerals.

H.R. 5293 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 282-138. The legislation will now go to the Senate for consideration.

Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.