American Products in Parks Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6714
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-15: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-06T08:42:13Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The American Products in Parks Act (H.R. 6714) aims to promote the sale of domestically produced goods by requiring that all products offered in gift shops and visitor centers within the National Park System be made in the United States. This supports American manufacturing and reduces reliance on imported items in these federal facilities.
Key Provisions
- Product Requirements: Starting one year after the bill's enactment, only products meeting all three criteria can be sold:
- The final assembly or processing (putting together or preparing the item for sale) must occur in the United States.
- All significant processing steps (major manufacturing or preparation stages) must take place in the United States.
- All or virtually all ingredients or components (raw materials or parts) must be made and sourced in the United States.
- Enforcement: The Secretary of the Interior must create procedures for certification (verifying compliance), audits (inspections to check adherence), and enforcement (penalties or actions for violations) by the effective date.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new federal mandate for products sold in National Park System facilities, which previously had no such "Buy American" requirement. It builds on existing "Buy American" policies for federal procurement but extends them specifically to retail sales in national parks, shifting from optional or unregulated sourcing to strict domestic production standards.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The National Park Service (under the Department of the Interior) will face increased administrative burdens to implement sourcing changes, conduct audits, and certify products, potentially raising operational costs.
- Citizens and Visitors: Park visitors may encounter higher prices for goods due to the focus on U.S.-made products, which could be more expensive, but it promotes patriotic purchasing and supports domestic jobs.
- International Relations: The policy could limit sales of foreign-made souvenirs, potentially straining trade relations with countries exporting park-related merchandise, though the impact is likely minor given the scale of national park retail.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- National Park Service and Department of the Interior: Responsible for compliance, enforcement, and managing gift shop inventories.
- U.S. Manufacturers and Suppliers: Gain opportunities to supply parks with compliant products, boosting domestic industries like apparel, crafts, and souvenirs.
- Gift Shop and Visitor Center Operators: Must transition inventory to U.S.-made items, which may require new partnerships and could affect profitability.
- Park Visitors and Tourists: Directly impacted as consumers, with choices limited to American-sourced goods.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill relies on the federal government's authority over public lands and commerce on federal property, avoiding direct conflicts with state laws. Enforcement procedures could lead to disputes over what qualifies as "significant processing" or "virtually all" components, potentially requiring clarification through regulations or court challenges.
- Constitutional: It aligns with Congress's power under the Commerce Clause to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, especially on federal lands, but might face scrutiny if seen as overly protectionist without exemptions for certain goods.
- Political: Reinforces "Buy American" initiatives popular in economic nationalism debates, potentially influencing broader trade policies, though it applies narrowly to national parks and may spark discussions on balancing domestic support with consumer affordability.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-15: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2025-12-15: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-15: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- American Products in Parks Act — issued 2025-12-15 — PDF (2 pages)