U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) has announced the American Products in Parks Act as bipartisan legislation to ensure all products for sale in National Park Service visitor centers and gift shops are made in the USA.
“I’m announcing new bipartisan legislation that says plainly: If it’s sold in our national parks and visitors centers, it’s got to be made in America,” says Gottheimer. “Families who visit our parks and feel the love of our country that so many of us share should not have that feeling shattered when they turn over a gift and see ‘made in China’ instead of ‘made in America.’ This bill is about ensuring they don’t have to. It’s not only the patriotic thing to do, but it’s good for our economy — our families and their jobs, our manufacturers and our communities.”
More than 60% of products in national park stores are made in part or completely somewhere outside of the United States, according to a statement on Gottheimer’s website. With the newly proposed legislation, Gottheimer hopes more park souvenirs will be made and sourced domestically.
The American Products in Parks Act will mandate that a product may only be sold in a National Park Service gift shop or visitor center if the final assembly or processing of the product occurs in the U.S.; all significant processing on the product occurs in the U.S.; and all ingredients or components of the product are made and sourced in the U.S.
Gottheimer says he is writing a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration on conducting supply chain analysis with the National Park Service to find American-manufactured items to be sold in national parks.
