U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) on Feb. 12 introduced bipartisan legislation to address America’s shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing supplies during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), an estimated 95 percent of surgical masks and 75 percent of N95 respirators are made overseas, contributing to the nation’s reliance on foreign sources for manufacturing that has led to shortages and price spikes for respirators, masks and nitrile gloves for healthcare workers, as well as a variety of diagnostic testing materials.
“COVID-19 has shown the danger of our nation’s dependence on life-saving supplies from countries halfway around the world,” Sen. Cassidy said. “This legislation supports jobs here at home, bolsters our independence and strengthens our nation’s supply chain in the face of pandemic.”
Sen. Cassidy signed on as the original cosponsor of the Protecting Providers Everywhere in America Act, S. 308, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) to boost domestic production of PPE and testing supplies, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Cassidy’s office.
Additionally, S. 308 would promote a more sustainable supply chain by ensuring more predictable, dedicated funding from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to American manufacturers of applicable medical supplies, according to the summary.
If enacted, the bill specifically would authorize an HHS pilot project to increase domestic PPE and testing supply production by requiring at least 40 percent, and up to 100 percent, of applicable supplies procured by the SNS to be from domestic manufacturers, the summary states.
The bill has garnered support from the American Hospital Association, the International Safety Equipment Association, the Illinois Nurses Association, and the Illinois Health and Hospital Association.