Bill > HR6398

Introduced Session

To provide for the expedited procurement of equipment needed to combat COVID-19 under the Defense Production Act of 1950. This bill directs certain actions to procure equipment necessary to prevent, identify, and mitigate cases of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The National Response Coordination Center of the Federal Emergency Management Agency must, within seven days, submit a report to Congress and the President that (1) assesses the need for equipment, including personal protective equipment and ventilators, across the United States; and (2) identifies the industry sectors and manufacturers capable of fulfilling purchase orders for such equipment, as well as government-owned and privately owned stockpiles of such equipment that could be refurbished. Within 24 hours, the President must issue a purchase order with the highest priority rating under the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) for a specified number of N-95 respirators and face masks. (DPAS is used to prioritize national defense-related contracts, subcontracts, and purchase orders.) Within seven days of receiving the center's report, the President must also issue priority purchase orders for the equipment identified in the report under authorities provided by the Defense Production Act of 1950. (That act confers upon the President a broad set of authorities to influence domestic industry in order to provide essential materials and goods for the national defense.) The bill waives certain requirements under the act related to congressional notification and authorization and makes specified funds available for these efforts.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Jason Crow (D)*,  Cindy Axne (D),  Nanette Barragán (D),  Joyce Beatty (D),  Brendan Boyle (D),  Anthony Brown (D),  André Carson (D),  Joaquin Castro (D),  Steve Cohen (D),  TJ Cox (D),  Madeleine Dean (D),  Peter DeFazio (D),  Val Demings (D),  Theodore Deutch (D),  Adriano Espaillat (D),  Lizzie Fletcher (D),  Lois Frankel (D),  Chuy García (D),  Debra Haaland (D),  Jahana Hayes (D),  Sheila Jackson-Lee (D),  Ro Khanna (D),  Derek Kilmer (D),  Ann Kuster (D),  Conor Lamb (D),  John Larson (D),  Stephen Lynch (D),  Tom Malinowski (D),  Sean Maloney (D),  Jim McGovern (D),  Jerry McNerney (D),  Gwen Moore (D),  Seth Moulton (D),  Jerry Nadler (D),  Grace Napolitano (D),  Joe Neguse (D),  Ilhan Omar (D),  Jimmy Panetta (D),  Chris Pappas (D),  Donald Payne (D),  Ed Perlmutter (D),  Chellie Pingree (D),  Mark Pocan (D),  Katie Porter (D),  Ayanna Pressley (D),  Jamie Raskin (D),  Harley Rouda (D),  Lucille Roybal-Allard (D),  Bobby Rush (D),  Mary Gay Scanlon (D),  Terri Sewell (D),  Darren Soto (D),  Tom Suozzi (D),  Bennie Thompson (D),  David Trone (D),  Juan Vargas (D),  Filemón Vela (D),  Nydia Velázquez (D),  Frederica Wilson (D), 

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. (on 03/27/2020)

Official Document