Congressman Kim Calls for Immediate Use of Defense Production Act

Statement

Today, Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) called on President Trump to immediately use the powers outlined within the Defense Production Act to address the crippling shortage of personal protective equipment (PPEs), ventilators, and test kits needed by frontline first responders to contain the Coronavirus outbreak.

Yesterday, President Trump announced that he would invoke the Defense Production Act, but would utilize it, "in a worst case scenario in the future", citing, "hopefully there will be no need."

"I've gotten calls from officials across Burlington and Ocean Counties concerned about the lack of basic PPEs, ventilators and test kits. The idea that we can wait for the "worst case scenario' to use every tool at our disposal to address this shortage is simply unacceptable," said Congressman Kim. "The Defense Production Act needs to be activated today. We need to do everything we can do increase the number of PPEs and other supplies and get them into the hands of our emergency and health care professionals so they can save lives and put an end to this crisis."

Earlier this week, Congressman Kim was joined by the entire New Jersey delegation to call on the Department of Health and Human Services to deliver critical supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile.

"It's not enough to activate the Defense Production Act, we need to have a clear sense from the Administration what the production goals are, and when we can expect these supplies to get to communities like ours," added Congressman Kim. "New Jersey is still owed supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile and we need to see action today to deliver those supplies and ramp up production to meet the demands of our health care and emergency professionals."

Congressman Kim is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Committee on Small Business.

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