Overview
Title
To amend title 10, United States Code, to permanently add stainless steel flatware to the list of covered items required to be procured from American sources, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
This bill wants to make sure that all shiny metal forks, spoons, and knives that people in the U.S. government buy are made in America, and it has a fun name: FORKS Made in America Act. 🥄
Summary AI
H. R. 8163 aims to amend title 10 of the United States Code to ensure that stainless steel flatware must be procured from American sources by permanently adding it to the list of items covered under the Berry Amendment. The bill is known as the “Federal Ordinance Requiring Kitchenware Specifically Made in America Act” or the “FORKS Made in America Act.” It was introduced by Ms. Tenney and Mr. Williams of New York and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. The amendment will take effect on October 1, 2023.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, H.R. 8163, aims to amend title 10 of the United States Code by permanently adding stainless steel flatware to the list of items covered under the Berry Amendment. This amendment mandates that certain goods be procured from American sources for federal use, focusing in this case on ensuring that stainless steel flatware is sourced domestically. Labeled as the "Federal Ordinance Requiring Kitchenware Specifically Made in America Act" or "FORKS Made in America Act," the bill seeks to solidify the requirement that the U.S. government prioritizes buying these items from American manufacturers.
Summary of Significant Issues
A significant issue with the bill centers around its title and acronym, "FORKS Made in America Act," which some might find potentially misleading as it lacks clarity regarding the bill's scope and specific focus on stainless steel flatware. Moreover, the emphasis on American-made products could be contentious as it might be perceived as protectionist, possibly conflicting with international trade agreements that discourage favoring domestic over foreign producers.
Furthermore, the addition of stainless steel flatware to the Berry Amendment's list raises questions about fair trade practices. The text does not provide clear justification for prioritizing this particular product, prompting concerns that it could represent an unnecessary allocation of federal resources. Adding to this complexity is the retroactive effective date of October 1, 2023, potentially causing legal concerns about its enactment and enforcement.
Impact on the Public and Procurement Practices
Broadly, the bill's emphasis on procuring stainless steel flatware from American sources could support domestic manufacturers by ensuring a steady demand from government contracts, potentially leading to job creation and economic support for the industry within the country. This could be seen as a positive step for American manufacturing sectors, promoting local economic growth and security.
However, the general public might perceive this as a potential increase in government spending if domestic products are priced higher than imported alternatives. The lack of detailed costs and benefits analysis within the text leaves room for uncertainty regarding the economic implications for taxpayers.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For domestic manufacturers of stainless steel flatware, the bill could represent a significant positive impact. By securing government contracts as part of the covered items under the Berry Amendment, these manufacturers stand to benefit from increased sales and production stability. This might also encourage more firms to enter the market, fostering competition and innovation within the manufacturing sector.
Conversely, this legislation might negatively affect foreign manufacturers and those who rely on imported flatware by reducing their competitive edge in selling to the U.S. government. It could also spark tensions in international trade relations, as other countries might view this move as a form of economic nationalism undermining the principles of free trade.
Ultimately, while the bill proposes to prioritize American-made products for government procurement, it presents challenges and implications that require careful consideration and balancing of economic and trade policy interests.
Issues
The short title 'Federal Ordinance Requiring Kitchenware Specifically Made in America Act' and its acronym 'FORKS Made in America Act' might not clearly reflect the broader implications or specific contents of the legislation, which could lead to confusion among stakeholders about the bill's intent and scope. [Section 1]
The Act’s emphasis on 'Specifically Made in America' suggests potential favoritism towards American-made products. This could raise concerns with international trade agreements or impact relations due to perceived protectionism. [Section 1]
The provision to add 'stainless steel flatware' to the Berry Amendment covered items might unduly favor domestic manufacturers. This raises issues of preferential treatment and ethical considerations regarding fair trade practices. [Section 2]
The text does not provide a clear justification for why stainless steel flatware needs to be included, leading to questions on whether this is a necessary legislative measure or an unnecessary allocation of resources. [Section 2]
The specified effective date of October 1, 2023, lacks a clear rationale. The retroactive nature of this clause might raise legal questions regarding its implementation and enforcement. [Section 2]
The potential impact on procurement practices due to the amendments is not fully explained, leading to uncertainties about the broader effect on government procurement and potential costs to the public. [Section 2]
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of this Act states that it can be referred to as the “Federal Ordinance Requiring Kitchenware Specifically Made in America Act” or simply the “FORKS Made in America Act”.
2. Permanent addition of domestically produced stainless steel flatware to the Berry Amendment Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section adds stainless steel flatware to the list of items covered by the Berry Amendment, which means the government should prioritize buying these items domestically. This change will be effective from October 1, 2023, and also involves updating another related law to reflect this addition.