WASHINGTON, DC – A bipartisan provision authored by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, was signed into law by President Biden as a part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act. This provision, which is based on the senators’ Make PPE in America Act, will strengthen efforts to onshore production of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the United States by requiring federal agencies to issue long-term contracts for American-made PPE. Reshoring production will ensure American workers, health care professionals, and more have the PPE they need as the economy continues to reopen. Domestic production of PPE supplies also will create American manufacturing jobs and ensure that America is better prepared for the next pandemic.
“Manufacturing PPE in America will not only ensure our nation is better prepared to combat the COVID pandemic and future public health emergencies, but will create good paying jobs in Michigan and across the country,” said Senator Peters “I’ve long raised concerns that our overreliance on foreign sources for medical equipment presents a significant national security threat and, at the onset of the COVID pandemic, we saw how a shortage of supplies — including PPE — harmed communities across the nation. I’m proud to have helped secure this important provision in the bipartisan infrastructure bill that will strengthen our medical supply chains and protect the health and safety of the American people.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic made it evident that the American people should not have to rely so heavily on foreign countries for personal protective equipment, and that’s why I’m pleased that our bipartisan Make PPE In America Act was signed into law as a part of the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act to bring PPE production back to our shores,” said Senator Portman. “When I talk to PPE manufacturers about re-shoring this production to America, the number one thing I hear about is the need for long-term contracts. Multi-year contracts as required in this legislation will give producers the certainty to know that their investment in the United States will be worth it because the government will be there to buy the PPE they produce.”
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