BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Gov. Rick Scott signed a new bill into law in Brevard County Monday.
The bill is called "The All American Flag Act."
"If a government entity in Florida that is either state or local is going to put an American flag or Florida flag, it ought to be made in America," said Scott.
It wasn't until student Andres Matos proposed the idea during Matthew Susin's U.S. history class at Viera High School that the proposal began to become a reality, when students learned that many American flags were not made in the United States.
Raw: Gov. Scott signs The All American Flag Act
"You talk all the time, you read inside of the text books about how all these different things happen. This happened in history that happened in history, and we are kind of in a little way a part of history right now," said Susin.
The All American Flag Act allows citizens or companies to buy foreign-made flags, but flags flown outside government sites would have to be made in the U.S., starting Jan. 1.
"The student proposed the idea. The legislator and myself, we ran it through to the governor, and now he is here to sign it," said Rep. Bob Cortez.
Congress considered a similar measure in 2012 after it was reported that $3.6 million worth of U.S. flags were imported.
"It ensures the flags that are flown in our public places are from materials that are grown, manufactured, assembled and put together by hand from American citizens," said State Sen. Thad Altman.
While it is a requirement, legislators said there are no penalties for flags that are currently not made in the U.S.
WFTV
