Union Calendar No. 233
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 754
[Report No. 106–399]
A BILL
To establish a toll free number under the Federal
Trade Commission to assist consumers in deter-
mining if products are American-made.
OCTOBER 19, 1999
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union,
and ordered to be printed
IB
Union Calendar No. 233
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 754
[Report No. 106–399]
To establish a toll free number under the Federal Trade Commission to
assist consumers in determining if products are American-made.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 11, 1999
Mr. TRAFICANT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Commerce
OCTOBER 19, 1999
Additional sponsors: Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Ms.
KAPTUR, Mr. SHOWS, Mr. LATOURETTE, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Mr.
PALLONE, Mr. ENGLISH, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Mr.
SANDERS, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. DOYLE, Mr. KILDEE, Mrs. MYRICK, and
Mr. FORBES
OCTOBER 19, 1999
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 11, 1999]
A BILL
To establish a toll free number under the Federal Trade
Commission to assist consumers in determining if prod-
ucts are American-made.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Made in America Infor-
mation Act’’.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF TOLL FREE NUMBER PILOT
PROGRAM.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—If the Secretary of Commerce
determines, on the basis of comments submitted in rule-
making under section 3, that—
(1) interest among manufacturers is sufficient to
warrant the establishment of a 3-year toll free number
pilot program, and
(2) manufacturers will provide fees under section
3(c) so that the program will operate without cost to
the Federal Government,
the Secretary shall establish such program solely to help in-
form consumers whether a product is ‘‘Made in America’’.
The Secretary shall publish the toll-free number by notice
in the Federal Register.
(b) CONTRACT.—The Secretary of Commerce shall
enter into a contract for—
(1) the establishment and operation of the toll
free number pilot program provided for in subsection
(a), and
(2) AMOUNT.—The amount of fees imposed under
paragraph (1) shall—
(A) in the case of a manufacturer, not be
greater than the cost of registering the manufac-
turer’s product and providing product informa-
tion directly attributable to such manufacturer,
and
(B) in the case of the total amount of fees,
not be greater than the total amount appro-
priated to the Secretary of Commerce for salaries
and expenses directly attributable to registration
of manufacturers and having products included
in the information provided under section 2(a).
(3) CREDITING AND AVAILABILITY OF FEES.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Fees collected for a fiscal
year pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be credited
to the appropriation account for salaries and ex-
penses of the Secretary of Commerce and shall be
available in accordance with appropriation Acts
until expended without fiscal year limitation.
(B) 
COLLECTIONS
AND
APPROPRIATION
ACTS.—The fees imposed under paragraph (1)—
(i) shall be collected in each fiscal year
in an amount equal to the amount specified
in appropriation Acts for such fiscal year,
and
(ii) shall only be collected and avail-
able for the costs described in paragraph
(2).
SEC. 4. PENALTY.
Any manufacturer of a product who knowingly reg-
isters a product under section 3 which is not ‘‘Made in
America’’—
(1) shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more
than $7500 which the Secretary of Commerce may as-
sess and collect, and
(2) shall not offer such product for purchase by
the Federal Government.
SEC. 5. DEFINITION.
For purposes of this Act:
(1) The term ‘‘Made in America’’ has the mean-
ing given unqualified ‘‘Made in U.S.A.’’ or ‘‘Made in
America’’ claims for purposes of laws administered by
the Federal Trade Commission.
(2) The term ‘‘product’’ means a product with a
retail value of at least $250.
SEC. 6. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act or in any regulation promulgated
under section 3 shall be construed to alter, amend, modify,
or otherwise affect in any way, the Federal Trade Commis-
sion Act or the opinions, decisions, rules, or any guidance
issued by the Federal Trade Commission regarding the use
of unqualified ‘‘Made in U.S.A.’’ or ‘‘Made in America’’
claims in labels on products introduced, delivered for intro-
duction, sold, advertised, or offered for sale in commerce.