WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) joined Representatives Bill Posey (FL-8), David Trone (MD-6), and several of their House colleagues in a letter calling on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra to leverage domestic manufacturing capabilities and new technologies to protect American patients and stave off over-dependence on China and other foreign powers for important pharmaceuticals.
This is the latest effort led by Rep. Fitzpatrick to reconstitute our healthcare and public safety supply chain back to the United States and reduce dependency on foreign nations. Earlier this year, Rep. Fitzpatrick introduced the bipartisan Made in America Emergency Preparedness Act, which seeks to create a National Commission on United States Preparedness for National Emergencies to ensure our nation is taking the necessary steps to mitigate the impacts of future national emergencies, improve responsiveness, and save lives.
“We simply cannot outsource our public safety and national security to foreign nations. We must reconstitute our healthcare and public safety supply chain back to the United States,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “Medical products, protective equipment, pharmaceuticals, emergency response equipment, and all other critical items and materials needed to respond to a national emergency must be produced domestically for domestic consumption, especially during a critical, time-sensitive crisis.”
“The coronavirus pandemic exposed serious vulnerabilities in our critical supply chain of lifesaving medications,” said Rep. Bill Posey. “With a majority of key pharmaceuticals imported to the United Sates from China, a supply disruption of any origin, whether by design or mistake, could put American patients in danger.”
"All Americans are at risk when our country is dependent on foreign powers to produce lifesaving drugs and pharmaceutical ingredients," said Rep. David Trone. "We must ensure that everyday Americans can access essential medication, especially during a global health crisis."
“This is about U.S. national security and the health and safety of our citizens, and we must take serious steps to ramp up American production, grow the national stockpile and put Americans first,” said Rep. Posey.
You can view the letter here.
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