Bipartisan Letter Asks USTR Not to Restrict Purchases of Imported Protective Medical Supplies
More than 75 members of the House, both Republicans and Democrats, are asking the Defense Logistics Agency and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative not to restrict purchase of personal protective equipment -- such as N95 masks, also called respirators, gloves, gowns, and shoe covers -- to U.S. sources. They say that importing is critical to stop the shortages.
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“While we are glad to see the President has authorized the Defense Production Act and that the Department of Defense is providing 5 million respirators, we remain concerned that this will not provide enough supplies in time,“ reads the letter, which is led by Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, and Rep. Troy Balderson, R-Ohio. “The urgent public health situation we find ourselves in has made clear the vulnerabilities resulting from our existing supply and sourcing structures,” they wrote, but added that the U.S. needs to import supplies, not just work to manufacture more of these goods at home. Proper supply “will ensure that our health care workforce stays healthy and ready to respond. And it will bring peace of mind to every American to know we are better prepared to handle this outbreak,” they wrote.