A bill to establish a toll free number in the Department of Commerce to assist consumers in determining if products are American-made.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Oct 14, 1998

Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a three-year toll free number pilot program to inform consumers about whether a product is "made in America" if the Secretary determines, based upon comments submitted in a certain rulemaking, that interest among manufacturers is sufficient to warrant such a program. Prescribes implementation procedures, including assessment of a civil penalty against any manufacturer who knowingly registers a product that does not comply with criteria under this Act.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD] · D–SD

Committees

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Oct 14, 1998
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Oct 14, 1998
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12561-12562)
Oct 14, 1998
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Oct 14, 1998 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.2631 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.2631, 105th Congress: A bill to establish a toll free number in the Department of Commerce to assist consumers in determining if products are American-made.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/2631

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1998-10-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s2631/BILLS-105s2631is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:05:52Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.2631 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.2631 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.2631, 105th Congress: A bill to establish a toll free number in the Department of Commerce to assist consumers in determining if products are American-made.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/2631

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1998-10-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s2631/BILLS-105s2631is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:05:52Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2631 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.2631 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.2631, 105th Congress: A bill to establish a toll free number in the Department of Commerce to assist consumers in determining if products are American-made.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/2631

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1998-10-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s2631/BILLS-105s2631is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:05:52Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2631 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.2631 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.2631, 105th Congress: A bill to establish a toll free number in the Department of Commerce to assist consumers in determining if products are American-made.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/2631

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1998-10-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s2631/BILLS-105s2631is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:05:52Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2631 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.