A bipartisan proposal in the U.S. House is taking aim at a familiar irritation for park visitors: picking up a souvenir at Yellowstone, Gettysburg, or the Grand Canyon, then flipping it over and seeing “Made in China.” The bill, spotlighted this week by RV Travel’s report on the legislation, would require products sold in National Park Service visitor centers and gift shops to be produced in the United States.
The measure is filed as H.R. 6714 on Congress.gov and lists Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) as sponsor, with Reps. Jeff Hurd (R-CO) and Chris Deluzio (D-PA) as cosponsors. It was introduced on December 15, 2025, and referred to the House Natural Resources Committee.
What The Bill Would Change Inside National Park Shops
In a December 8 announcement, Gottheimer framed the effort as a direct fix for imported merchandise showing up in America’s most iconic public places. His office says the “American Products in Parks Act” would limit sales to items meeting a strict domestic production test, including final assembly in the U.S. and “all or virtually all” components sourced here, as described in the Gottheimer press release outlining the bill’s standards.
That standard mirrors the Federal Trade Commission’s long-running definition for unqualified domestic-origin claims. The FTC explains that a product marketed as Made in USA must be “all or virtually all” made in the United States, backed by evidence, in its guidance on complying with the Made in USA standard.
Why It Matters For American Manufacturing
National parks are not a niche storefront. They are a huge, steady stream of foot traffic with wallets out. The National Park Service reports record demand: 331.9 million recreation visits in 2024 and an estimated $29.0 billion in visitor spending in nearby communities. If even a small slice of the souvenir supply chain shifts from imported trinkets to domestic cut-and-sew shops, printers, metal stampers, and small batch makers, that is real volume for U.S. factories.
The NPS has encouraged American-made retail for years, but it has also documented how mixed the shelves can be. A Park Service summary of concession retail found a 2008 review showing 39% of merchandise was made in the U.S., 31% was finished here, and 30% was imported, in its overview of NPS “Buy American” concession practices.
We see this bill as a logical, straightforward idea: if taxpayers fund and treasure these parks, park stores should reflect American work, not offshore supply chains hiding behind patriotic packaging.
