American Made Federal Uniforms Act

Summary#

This bill adds a new section (8306) to chapter 83 of title 41, United States Code. It requires that most clothing and textile items procured for executive agencies be grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the United States. "Covered items" include clothing, uniforms, footwear, belts, badges, and many textile materials and components, but do not include sensors, electronics, or other items not normally associated with clothing. The rule applies whether an item is bought directly, leased, furnished by a contractor as part of services, provided under laundry or uniform-management contracts, or acquired through blanket or indefinite-delivery contract vehicles. The bill lists several exceptions: when satisfactory domestic quality or quantity is not available at U.S. market prices (with a required written determination), for certain procurements outside the United States (for example in direct support of contingency operations, disaster response, or for overseas activities), for purchases at or below the micro-purchase threshold (with an anti-splitting rule), and for items bought solely for resale by retail activities unless an agency decides otherwise. The bill preserves the Department of Defense Berry Amendment and permits this new requirement to be applied in addition to existing Buy American rules. It requires the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to issue regulations within 180 days and the head of each affected agency to update agency guidance. The General Services Administration must report to Congress starting two years after the law takes effect (and annually for three years) on procurement values, domestic vs. foreign sourcing, availability exceptions, and other implementation details. The law would take effect 180 days after enactment and includes savings provisions for contracts and orders entered into before that date.

What it means for you#

• Federal agencies: For solicitations, contracts, and orders issued after the effective date, agencies must follow the domestic sourcing rule for covered clothing and textile items except where an exception applies. Agencies must document availability exceptions in writing.
• Contractors and suppliers: Firms supplying uniforms and textile products to executive agencies will need to show that materials and components are grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the United States when required by the contract, unless an exception applies.
• Service contractors: Contracts that furnish uniforms or provide uniform-management, laundry, or similar services are covered and must meet the domestic sourcing requirement for supplied items unless an exception applies.
• Employees and end users of uniforms: Uniforms and apparel provided under covered contracts would generally be sourced from domestic producers, subject to the bill’s exceptions.
• Existing contracts and orders: Contracts and orders entered into before the effective date are generally not affected; new orders on older contract vehicles issued after the effective date must comply unless specifically exempted.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on costs or budgetary effects is included in the bill text or metadata provided.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information in the provided text about supporters’ stated views or arguments for the bill.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information in the provided text about opponents’ stated views or objections to the bill.