Federal bill would address country’s PPE needs

Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would help make the country more prepared for pandemics.

The Managing American Knowledge and Equipment to Prevent Pandemic Emergencies Act would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to execute a national strategy to meet personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturing and distribution needs through a centralized office. The strategy must maximize the use of U.S.-made PPE during an emergency.

The legislation includes several other provisions: utilize the federal government’s buying power to demand PPE and other materials manufacturers invest in domestic production; authorize $100 million annually in grant funding to ensure that American manufacturers, including those in economically distressed areas, get assistance and support to build or expand PPE manufacturing capability; add a data-sharing requirement to existing public health grants to ensure that the federal government can access the data needed to coordinate materials needs during a crisis; update the Stafford Act to include a public health emergency under the definition of a major disaster; and produce information and resources on how to make basic temporary protective equipment at home.

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA) introduced the bill, and it is sponsored by U.S. Reps. Joe Morelle (D-NY), Collin Peterson (Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party-MN), and Chris Pappas (D-NH).