Hudson Co-Sponsors the Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act

July 16, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) has co-sponsored the Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act, a bipartisan package of measures to reduce America's dependence on foreign sources of critical medal supplies needed to fight COVID-19, boost domestic manufacturing to make those supplies here in America, and make much-needed improvements and updates to America's Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). The bill is expected to be considered in the House Energy and Commerce Committee this week.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the importance of personal protective equipment and the Strategic National Stockpile," said Rep. Hudson. "As part of my commitment to getting our community and country needed resources, I'm proud to help co-sponsor the Strengthening America's National Stockpile Act. This legislation will deliver critical investments in our ability to respond to and prepare for public health crises like COVID-19."

The bill was introduced by Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-08). Other original co-sponsors include Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Susan Brooks (R-IN), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Earl L. Buddy Carter (R-GA), Jackie Walorski (R-IN), Diana DeGette (D-CO), David McKinley (R-WV), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), Darren Soto (D-FL), Fred Upton (R-MI), Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), Kim Schier (D-WA), Greg Gianforte (R-MT), Gil Cisneros (D-CA), Joe Neguse (D-CO), and Michael Burgess (R-TX).

"It's simple: this bipartisan package will ensure more critical medical supplies are made here in America," said Rep. Slotkin. "It will reduce our dependence on foreign suppliers by boosting domestic production of critical supplies. It will improve our ability to protect our frontline workers, to respond to this and future public health crises. It will strengthen maintenance and oversight of the stockpile, and give us a comprehensive account of what states have asked for and what they received from the stockpile. And it will do so in a bipartisan fashion, because this virus doesn't pay attention to party politics and neither should we."

The legislation will:

Make sure stockpile items are in good working order and ready to use if and when a crisis hits. Will ensure items in the stockpile are in good working order and aren't expired by requiring regular maintenance.

Increase manufacturing of critical supplies in America. Will boost domestic production of critical supplies by establishing a $500 million pilot program to diversify sources of personal protective equipment and partnering with industry to replenish existing stocks.

Improve stockpile financial security and reduce waste by allowing the transfer of stockpile items nearing their expiration dates to other federal agencies.

Bring transparency to past stockpile allocations. Will require the administration to report to Congress on all state, local, tribal and territorial requests for stockpile supplies during the pandemic and the response to each request.

Bring transparency to process for stockpile allocations. Will require development of improved, transparent processes for distribution of goods from the stockpile and provide the states with clear, transparent guidelines on how to request distributions from the stockpile.

Take steps to return money to taxpayers when companies profit off of SNS products. Will explore the possibility of further strengthening the stockpile financially by requiring a Government Accountability Office study on implementing a user fee to reimburse the stockpile for items such as antitoxins, for which it is the sole provider and for which health care providers or others may charge patients.

Support states' readiness in a public health emergency. Will establish a pilot program to support state efforts to expand and maintain their own stockpiles.

Put more resources behind the SNS. This legislation will also provide increased resources for the stockpile by raising annual authorized funding for its operations from $610 million to $705 million for fiscal years 2020 through 2023.

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Issues:CoronavirusHealth Care