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Van Drew Bill to Require POW-MIA Flags Purchased with State Funds be Made in the United States Advances

JVD Verizon

 

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Jeff Van Drew to require that any POW-MIA flags purchased with State funds be manufactured in the United States was approved today by the Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

 

“It is only right that these flags, which honor our American heroes, be made here,” said Senator Van Drew (D-Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland). “This law would require that the flags purchased by the government to be flown at state buildings and elsewhere be manufactured here in the United States.”

 

The bill (S-1655) would require that POW-MIA flags bought by the State government are made in the United States. Current law requires that any flag of the United States of America or flag of the State of New Jersey purchased with State funds be manufactured in the United States.

 

In 2012, 94 percent or $3.6 million worth of the flags imported into the U.S. came from China, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

 

The POW/MIA flag is an American flag designed as a symbol of citizen concern about United States military personnel taken as prisoners of war (POWs) or listed as missing in action (MIA). The POW/MIA flag was created by the National League of Families and officially recognized by Congress in 1990. The original design for the flag was created by Newt Heisley in 1972.

 

The bill was approved by a vote of 4-0. It next heads to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee for consideration.