U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Jackie Walorski (R-IN) introduced a bill to shore up the medical supplies in the Strategic National Stockpile.
Their bill, the Medical Supplies for Pandemics Act of 2020, would strengthen the Strategic National Stockpile by enhancing medical supply chain elasticity, improving the domestic production of personal protective equipment, and partnering with industry to refresh and replenish existing stocks of medical supplies.
“Modernizing the Strategic National Stockpile and our medical supply chain is key to ensuring that frontline health care workers and first responders are never again left without adequate supplies of personal protective equipment,” Dingell said. “These much-needed reforms will strengthen domestic manufacturing of critical medical supplies like N95 masks while allowing increased flexibility to quickly scale up production of lifesaving equipment during emergencies.”
The legislation would authorize $500 million annually through fiscal year 2023 to implement a supply chain flexibility manufacturing program that would create incentives for the domestic manufacturer of medical supplies to enhance supply chain elasticity. It would also establish and maintain domestic reserves of critical medical supplies like personal protective equipment and diagnostic tests. In addition, it would work with distributors of medical supplies to manage domestic reserves held by the Strategic National Stockpile by refreshing and replenishing supply stocks.
“Health care workers on the front lines of the fight against coronavirus are risking their lives to care for patients and protect our communities,” Walorski said. “As we work to ensure they have the medical supplies and personal protective equipment they need, we also need to plan for future disasters by modernizing and strengthening the Strategic National Stockpile. This bipartisan legislation will leave us better prepared to avoid shortages of critical supplies and ensure a reliable domestic reserve of lifesaving medical equipment is available for the next crisis.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, health care workers were given expired and outdated equipment from the Strategic National Stockpile. Also, there was a lack of critical medical supplies across the existing domestic supply chain, forcing the United States to rely on China and other nations for the manufacture of this equipment. The reforms would strengthen the ability to respond to future pandemics and public health emergencies.