A bill to establish a toll free number in the Department of Commerce to assist consumers in determining if products are American-made.
Latest action (14 Oct 1998): Introduced
What this bill does
S. 2631 would direct the Secretary of Commerce to consider establishing a three-year pilot program creating a toll-free telephone number to help consumers determine whether specific products are "Made in America." The Secretary could only set up the program if a rulemaking process showed sufficient manufacturer interest and manufacturers agreed to pay fees covering the full cost, so the program would operate at no expense to the federal government. Manufacturers could voluntarily register products meeting the FTC's existing "Made in America" standard, and the toll-free line would report registration status without implying government endorsement, verification, or that a product is 100% U.S.-made.
The bill primarily affects manufacturers who might choose to register products (and pay associated fees), consumers seeking origin information via the toll-free line, and the Department of Commerce, which would run the registration and fee system. Manufacturers who knowingly register a product falsely as "Made in America" could face a civil penalty of up to $7,500 and would be barred from selling that product to the federal government. The bill does not change existing Federal Trade Commission rules or authority over "Made in U.S.A." labeling claims.
The bill applies to products with a retail value of at least $250. It was introduced October 14, 1998, in the 105th Congress by Senator Tim Johnson and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. It received no further action or vote and did not become law; as an introduced bill from an earlier Congress, it would need to be reintroduced to be considered again.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
This bill was introduced on October 14, 1998, in a previous session of Congress, but it did not receive a vote.
Common questions
- What does S. 2631 do?
- S. 2631 would direct the Secretary of Commerce to consider establishing a three-year pilot program creating a toll-free telephone number to help consumers determine whether specific products are "Made in America." The Secretary could only set up the program if a rulemaking process showed sufficient manufacturer interest and manufacturers agreed to pay fees covering the full cost, so the program would operate at no expense to the federal government. Manufacturers could voluntarily register products meeting the FTC's existing "Made in America" standard, and the toll-free line would report registration status without implying government endorsement, verification, or that a product is 100% U.S.-made. The bill primarily affects manufacturers who might choose to register products (and pay associated fees), consumers seeking origin information via the toll-free line, and the Department of Commerce, which would run the registration and fee system. Manufacturers who knowingly register a product falsely as "Made in America" could face a civil penalty of up to $7,500 and would be barred from selling that product to the federal government. The bill does not change existing Federal Trade Commission rules or authority over "Made in U.S.A." labeling claims. The bill applies to products with a retail value of at least $250. It was introduced October 14, 1998, in the 105th Congress by Senator Tim Johnson and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. It received no further action or vote and did not become law; as an introduced bill from an earlier Congress, it would need to be reintroduced to be considered again.
- Has S. 2631 become law?
- Not yet. As of 14 Oct 1998, S. 2631 is introduced.
- Who sponsored S. 2631?
- S. 2631 was sponsored by Sen. Tim Johnson [D-SD, 1997-2014] (Democrat-SD), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 2631?
- Introduced (14 Oct 1998).
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