FORKS Made in America Permanency Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 4822

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-29: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Last Updated

2025-09-11T18:27:10Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This legislation aims to permanently require the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to purchase stainless steel flatware (such as forks, knives, and spoons) and dinnerware (such as plates and bowls) from American sources, ensuring ongoing support for domestic manufacturing of these items for military use.

Key Provisions

• Short Title: The bill is titled the "Federal Ordinance Requiring Kitchenware Specifically Made in America Permanency Act of 2025" or the "FORKS Made in America Permanency Act of 2025" (a playful acronym emphasizing forks made in America).
• Amendment to Existing Law: It modifies Section 842 of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159), which is codified as a note to 10 U.S.C. 4862.
• Core Action: The bill eliminates subsection (c) of Section 842, which is the "sunset provision" (a clause that would end the requirement after a set time period).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The original Section 842 temporarily mandates that the Secretary of Defense procure stainless steel flatware and dinnerware from U.S. sources to improve servicemember quality of life.
• By striking the sunset provision, this bill removes the expiration date, converting the requirement from temporary to indefinite, without altering other aspects of the procurement rules.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The DoD will face ongoing obligations to source these items domestically, potentially increasing procurement costs if U.S.-made products are more expensive, but ensuring consistent supply for military dining facilities.
• On Citizens: American manufacturers and workers in the stainless steel and kitchenware industries may benefit from sustained federal contracts, supporting jobs in domestic production; servicemembers gain access to higher-quality, U.S.-produced items for daily use.
• On International Relations: This could subtly affect trade relations by prioritizing U.S. suppliers over foreign ones, aligning with broader "Buy American" policies, but it is unlikely to have major diplomatic effects given the narrow focus on military kitchenware.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Manufacturers: Domestic producers of stainless steel flatware and dinnerware, who gain permanent access to DoD contracts.
• Department of Defense and Military Personnel: The DoD must comply with sourcing rules, while servicemembers benefit from standardized, American-made dining items.
• Taxpayers: Indirectly affected through federal spending on procurement, potentially supporting U.S. jobs but possibly raising costs if domestic sourcing is pricier.
• Foreign Suppliers: Overseas manufacturers of these items may lose out on DoD business opportunities.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces existing "Buy American" statutes under Title 10 of the U.S. Code, which promote domestic procurement for national security; no challenges to enforceability are evident, as it simply extends a prior congressional mandate.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's enumerated powers under Article I, Section 8 to regulate commerce and provide for the military, without raising separation-of-powers issues.
• Political: Highlights bipartisan interest in protecting U.S. manufacturing and military quality-of-life improvements; the acronym-based title suggests a lighthearted approach to garner public and media attention, potentially aiding passage in a defense-focused Congress.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-29: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
• 2025-07-29: Introduced in House
• 2025-07-29: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Federal Ordinance Requiring Kitchenware Specifically Made in America Permanency Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-29 — PDF (2 pages)