A group of lawmakers recently urged President Donald Trump to immediately implement all Defense Production Act (DPA) powers to expedite the production of needed materials during the coronavirus emergency.
Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) recently joined 18 of their colleagues in addressing Trump’s partial invocation of the Act, which they said ignores other key titles in the Act providing essential tools such as respirators and gloves, ventilators and other critical materials.
The lawmakers maintain the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has estimated the nation could need up to 3.5 billion respirators during the coronavirus emergency but noted the Strategic National Stockpile holds only 12 million respirators.
“Our domestic industries are ready and waiting for the call to respond to the critical ongoing shortages of key medical equipment and supplies,” the Senators wrote in correspondence to Trump. “But they need capital, federal contracts, and other assurances in order to act. We can activate America’s ingenuity and resolve by immediately providing that financial incentive and direction through the full use of DPA authorities. We urge you to move forward in using these authorities immediately, for the sake of the health and well-being of the American people.”
The Senators also urged Trump to refrain from referring to the current coronavirus in an “inflammatory and xenophobic manner.”