Representative Malinowski Works to Strengthen the Strategic National Stockpile

Statement

This week, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act. This legislation would strengthen and grow our country's Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), the United States' national repository of critical medical supplies, to better combat future health crises. Representative Malinowski is an original cosponsor of the legislation.

The Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act would make much needed improvements to the SNS to ensure our country is ready for the next public health crisis. Among other provisions, the legislation would: increase the manufacturing of critical supplies in America, ensure stockpile items are in good working order and ready to use if and when a crisis hits, improve stockpile financial security, and support states' readiness in a public health emergency.

"The COVID-19 crisis has exposed glaring weaknesses in our country's pandemic response preparedness, including our failure to maintain a sufficient national PPE stockpile," said Representative Malinowski. "This bipartisan bill would ensure that we never again have widespread shortages of life saving PPE, and that our nation is better prepared to face the next public health crisis."

Representative Malinowski has been a leading voice to reform the SNS. In July, the House passed a $1.3 trillion government funding bill, which included a provision introduced by Representative Malinowski that would require the SNS be adequately stocked for the next major pandemic. The provision requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to send a weekly report to Congress on the inventory of ventilators and personal protective equipment in the SNS, as well as an annual professional judgment budget for necessary expenditures to maintain the minimum level of relevant supplies, including in the case of a pandemic.

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