Committee Passes Chairwoman Maloney's "Made in America: Preparation for a Pandemic Act"

Statement

Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, issued the following statement after the Committee passed H.R. 7548, the Made in America: Preparation for a Pandemic Act:

"As we navigate the challenges of the coronavirus crisis, we must turn to the spirit of ingenuity that has always fueled America's success and resilience. That spirit is what inspired the "Made in America: Preparation for a Pandemic Act.' This bill was written to unleash American manufacturing power to safeguard the country from the catastrophic shortages of medical supplies and personal protective equipment, or PPE, since the pandemic's outbreak.

"America has the spirit and skills to guarantee an adequate stock of PPE in the Strategic National Stockpile at all times, build our domestic supply chains, and put Americans to work manufacturing the materials and equipment we need to sustain us when our nation is hit with the unthinkable. This bill charts the course forward to save lives, create jobs, and enhance our resilience in the face of future health crises and global supply chain disruptions. I am very pleased that my colleagues broadly supported this legislation."

The Made in America: Preparation for a Pandemic Act was inspired by Chairwoman Maloney's work with Fashion for the Frontlines, a group of New York designers and garment industry manufacturers who banded together to produce PPE when New York City and the nation were facing a critical shortage. The group produced more than one million non-surgical PPE isolation gowns to distribute to hospitals and governments in New York City and across the nation.

The Committee also passed the following good government bills by voice vote:

-H.R. 4382, the Integrity Committee Transparency Act
-H.R. 5901, the Modernization Centers of Excellence Program Act
-H.R. 7496, COVID PREPARE Act
-H.R. 7340, Chai Suthammanont Remembrance Act
-H.R. 7107, PLUM Act
-H.R. 7936, Federal Employee Access to Information Act

Source