American Grown Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2504
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-06T13:59:05Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "American Grown Act" (S. 2504) aims to promote domestic agriculture by requiring specific U.S. government agencies to procure cut flowers and cut greens exclusively from U.S. sources. It also sets rules for accepting foreign-sourced gifts of these items to ensure transparency and balance with domestic displays.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- Covered agencies: The Executive Office of the President, Department of Defense, and Department of State.
- Covered entity: A foreign government or an agent of a foreign principal (as defined under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires registration for those acting on behalf of foreign interests).
- Cut flower: A flower removed from a living plant for decoration.
- Cut green: Foliage, greens, or branches removed from a living plant for decoration.
- Qualifying area: Any U.S. state, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories or possessions, or lands under federally recognized Indian Tribes.
- Procurement Limitation:
- Funds for covered agencies can only be used to buy cut flowers or cut greens grown in a qualifying area.
- This applies to purchases or contracts made in the U.S. starting one year after the bill's enactment.
- Rules for Gifts:
- Covered agencies may accept gifts of non-U.S.-grown cut flowers or cut greens from covered entities (e.g., foreign governments) for display only if:
- The origin is clearly labeled at delivery.
- The agency simultaneously buys and displays additional U.S.-grown items alongside the gift.
- During display, the origin of the gifted item must be clearly shown to the public.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new federal mandate restricting procurement of cut flowers and cut greens for the specified agencies, building on broader "Buy American" policies but targeting these items specifically.
- Adds conditional allowances for foreign gifts, which were not previously regulated in this detailed manner, ensuring they do not displace domestic sourcing without transparency.
- No explicit amendments to prior laws are mentioned, but it imposes novel spending restrictions on agency budgets for these decorative items.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Covered agencies (Executive Office of the President, DoD, DoS) will face higher costs or sourcing challenges if domestic supplies are limited, potentially affecting event planning, diplomacy, or military displays. They must track origins and procure extras for foreign gifts.
- On Citizens: Supports U.S. flower farmers and growers in qualifying areas by increasing demand for their products, potentially boosting rural economies and jobs in agriculture.
- On International Relations: May strain minor diplomatic gestures involving foreign gifts (e.g., from embassies), but the conditional acceptance rules mitigate this by allowing displays with U.S. counterparts, promoting transparency without outright bans.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Growers and Producers: Flower and greenery farmers in states, territories, and Tribal lands benefit from guaranteed federal purchases.
- Covered Agencies: Executive Office of the President, DoD, and DoS must comply with new sourcing and display requirements.
- Foreign Entities: Governments and their agents face restrictions on gifting non-U.S. items but can still participate under labeled, balanced conditions.
- General Public: Indirectly affected through taxpayer-funded procurements that prioritize domestic goods.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces Congress's constitutional power (under Article I, Section 8) to control federal spending and commerce, aligning with existing procurement laws like the Buy American Act without conflicting with trade agreements (as it targets narrow, non-commercial items).
- Constitutional: No major challenges anticipated, as it regulates government procurement rather than private trade; however, it could invite scrutiny if seen as overly burdensome on agency operations.
- Political: Advances "America First" agricultural policies, potentially appealing to domestic industry lobbies while signaling protectionism; bipartisan sponsorship (e.g., from Sens. Sullivan, Schiff, Murkowski, King) suggests broad support for supporting U.S. farmers amid global supply concerns.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 2025-07-29: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- American Grown Act — issued 2025-07-29 — PDF (4 pages)