House bill would bring more accountability to PPE distribution

Legislation introduced in the U.S. House seeks to ensure greater accountability in the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other emergency resources under the Defense Protection Act and Stafford Act.

Specifically, the bill — the Emergency Supply Chain Transparency Act — would require that the president report information to Congress about the transport, distribution, and possession of emergency resources by federal agencies and their private sector partners every 14 days.

The bill follows several requests for information about the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s efforts to maintain visibility on PPE and supplies from the threat of hoarders and price gougers.

“The White House’s response to the massive shortages of personal protective equipment and other critical supplies across our country has been convoluted, slow, and inexcusably political,” Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), one of the bill’s sponsors, said. “This ‘Wild West’ environment created by the lack of Administration leadership has allowed price-gouging and hoarding to flourish. Our legislation would bring desperately needed transparency to the medical supply chain to ensure this vital equipment is getting to our communities in need.”

Reps. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Katherine Clark (D-MA), and Angie Craig (D-MN) also sponsored the legislation.

“We’ve all seen the pictures of nurses wearing trash bags, reusing disposable masks, and improvising their own protective gear to protect themselves from COVID-19,” Deutch said. “If Project Airbridge is to effectively address the national shortage of PPE, we must be certain we don’t lose any of the lifesaving equipment to a broken supply chain. We are demanding confirmation that the masks, gowns, and other equipment nurses and doctors need make to the hospital loading dock, not a profiteer’s warehouse.”

In the past, Schneider has called for the Trump Administration to appoint a “supply chain czar” to coordinate the nation’s response to medical supply shortages.