American Glove Act of 2026

The bill would require federal agencies that buy nitrile gloves through shared or intermediary purchasing arrangements, including those tied to the AbilityOne Program, to make sure those gloves come only from qualified U.S.-based manufacturers under long-term supplier agreements. It would also set ownership and foreign-influence limits on which manufacturers qualify and require agencies to certify compliance and fix any noncompliant arrangements.

Who this affects

• Covered federal agencies (such as the Departments of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, and Defense): would have to structure glove purchases through shared procurement vehicles so that the gloves come only from qualified domestic manufacturers under supplier agreements of at least two years.
• Qualified domestic manufacturers: would be the only producers allowed to supply covered nitrile gloves to these vehicles, and must be majority-owned and controlled by U.S. persons and free of significant influence by foreign entities of concern.
• AbilityOne participating nonprofit agencies, central nonprofit agencies, authorized distributors, and prime contractors: would need to incorporate qualifying supplier agreements into their arrangements and could not treat intermediary contracting as meeting the bill's requirements.
• Contracting officers and agency heads: would have to keep written certifications in each contract file and take corrective action when a vehicle does not comply.

Words to know

• AbilityOne Program: a federal program that lets nonprofit agencies employing people with disabilities sell products and services to the government.
• Supplier agreement: a written contract of at least two years between a buyer and a qualified domestic manufacturer that includes a guaranteed minimum purchase or order commitment.
• Foreign entity of concern: a foreign person or organization the government treats as a national security or economic risk.
• Covered procurement vehicle: any purchasing arrangement, such as a contract, blanket purchase agreement, or prime vendor deal, that an agency uses to buy covered gloves.