Walorski proposes bill to modernize Strategic National Stockpile, strengthen domestic supply chain

Bipartisan legislation proposed by U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) would bolster the Strategic National Stockpile of personal protective equipment, vaccines and other critical medical supplies for distribution across the United States during public health emergencies.

“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,” the congresswoman said.

Rep. Walorski is the lead original cosponsor of the Medical Supplies for Pandemics Act of 2020, H.R. 6531, introduced on April 17 with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the use of the Strategic National Stockpile to enhance medical supply chain elasticity and establish and maintain domestic reserves of critical medical supplies, according to the congressional record bill summary.

“Healthcare workers on the frontlines of the fight against coronavirus are risking their lives to care for patients and protect our communities,” said Rep. Walorski. “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.”

If enacted, H.R. 6531 would authorize $500 million annually through fiscal year 2023 to implement a supply chain flexibility manufacturing program to create incentives for the domestic manufacturer of medical supplies to improve the American supply chain; establish and maintain domestic reserves of medical supplies; and work with medical supply distributors to manage domestic reserves held by the Strategic National Stockpile, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Walorski’s office.

“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,” Rep. Dingell said.