Bill > SRes547

This Resolution encourages the President to use existing powers granted by the Defense Production Act of 1950, a law designed to bolster national defense and emergency preparedness, to significantly increase the production and availability of essential medical supplies needed to combat the coronavirus crisis. Specifically, it urges the President to prioritize the manufacturing of items like personal protective equipment (PPE), test kits, respirators, and ventilators for the U.S. healthcare system. The resolution also supports using these authorities to direct suppliers to prioritize government contracts for restocking the Strategic National Stockpile, a reserve of critical medical supplies, and to offer financial incentives, such as loans and direct purchases, to manufacturers of vital medical equipment, as well as to establish voluntary agreements with private industry to coordinate the production of scarce medical goods.