Senators introduce bill to modernize production of medical supplies

A group of U.S. senators recently introduced legislation designed to modernize the production of medical supplies for frontline healthcare providers and ensure the utilization of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to respond to emergencies.

The Public Health Emergency (PHE) Production Act – introduced by Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Angus King (I-ME) — would ensure that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) fully leverages its authorities under the DFA during pandemics and other crises.

“As our country nears the sixth month of the COVID-19 pandemic, our hospitals, health care professionals, frontline workers, and state and local governments are still facing a shortage of critical supplies,” Van Hollen said. “The Administration to-date has not utilized the Defense Production Act to effectively ramp up the production of necessary protective equipment and testing supplies. This is unacceptable. This legislation will require HHS to fully implement the DPA to ensure that our country meets the continued demand for the supplies necessary to respond to COVID-19.”

Van Hollen has called on the Trump administration several times to utilize the DPA to increase the production of medical supplies and testing equipment.

“Trump’s chaotic and inadequate response to the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in shortages of testing supplies, PPE and other medical equipment that our frontline healthcare providers rely on,” Duckworth said. “This public health crisis is not over, which is why it’s critical that we address these gaps. I’m proud to introduce this legislation with Senator King and Senator Van Hollen to boost production and distribution of this equipment while maintaining effective oversight.”

Specifically, the bill would require the DPA fund to be equitably distributed among all federal agencies responsible for carrying out DPA efforts, especially for public health programs. Further, it would establish a permanent “DPA Title III Program Office” in the HHS Office of the ASPR to plan and implement authorities to boost the manufacturing of public health resources that are vital to effective pandemic preparedness. Also, the DPA Committee would have to submit a report to Congress once a month during the COVID-19 national emergency.

“In times of crisis, American leaders marshal the collective capabilities of our nation in order to protect our people from harm – it’s what they’ve always done,” King said. “Unfortunately, that’s not what we’re seeing now. In the midst of the continuing coronavirus crisis, the Administration has been slow to use its full Defense Production Act powers to accelerate production of testing supplies, PPE, and other lifesaving medical supplies. We need to do more, and this legislation will make sure that HHS is exploring every possible opportunity to respond to this crisis and give our healthcare providers every tool available to save lives.”