Credit: WCBC Radio

As the U.S. continues to see COVID-19 death numbers and PPE shortages climb, U.S. Representatives David Trone (D-MD) and Rick Crawford (R-AR) introduced the bipartisan American Made Strategic National Stockpile Act, which would require the purchase of American-made goods for the Strategic National Stockpile. The duo introduced the legislation just as President Trump’s signed an Executive Order encouraging federal agencies to buy American-made medical supplies. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has called into question the stability of the United States’ domestic medical supply chains. The U.S. Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) contains around $8 billion worth of medication, vaccines, and medical products. However, the United States’ reliance on goods from other countries led to shortages of critical medical supplies for American hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and businesses.