“Right now, there are American companies that employ American workers that are manufacturing N95 masks and other critical health care products like PPE… Congress should not be supporting … Chinese manufacturers over American companies and workers — especially with taxpayer dollars.”
WASHINGTON — The Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) today urged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to immediately stop all purchase and procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) made in China. Last week, the Office of the Attending Physician distributed KN95 masks made in China to House lawmakers. It is shocking to see masks stamped with “Made in China” displayed on the faces of Members of Congress while they debate the nation’s business in the House of Representatives. Currently, there are a number of American companies manufacturing N95 masks and other PPE in the U.S. Read CPA’s full letter here.
“Using American taxpayer dollars to purchase Chinese personal protective equipment (PPE) in order to supply Members of Congress is an affront not only to the American people, but also to the American companies and workers that produce these critical health care products here in the U.S.,” the letter states. “At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, headline after headline about poorly made and defective imported Chinese PPE dominated the news.”
CPA strongly opposes using American taxpayer dollars to purchase PPE made in China, especially given that there are a number of American companies manufacturing PPE in the U.S.
“Right now, there are American companies that employ American workers that are manufacturing N95 masks and other critical health care products like PPE,” the letter continues. “These companies include Advanced Concept Innovations, the second-largest producer of N95 masks in the U.S., which is currently producing up to 2 million N95s a day. Prestige Ameritech, another U.S. company manufacturing, has the capability to make roughly 7 million N95 masks per month. Incredibly, the federal government turned down the company’s offer at the onset of the pandemic in 2020 to ramp up production to make an additional 1.7 million N95 masks a week in 2020.
“Armbrust is another American manufacturer producing N95 masks and has “a mission to bring back strategic manufacturing to the USA.” Indiana Face Mask, Aegle, Demetech Corporation, Gerson, Protective Health Gear, and Shawmut Corporation are also manufacturing N95 masks right here in America.”
Last year, CPA applauded Congress for passing bipartisan legislation to reshore domestic production of PPE and support the procurement of products made in the U.S.
“Last July, the House Oversight and Reform Committee unanimously passed the Made in America Pandemic Preparedness Act, another sign that there is massive bipartisan support for Buy America rules targeting key and critical supply chains,” the letter continues. “In the most recent National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 117-181), Congress prohibited the Department of Defense from procuring PPE from China and other foreign adversaries… Last year, the Senate passed the the Make PPE in America Act (S. 1306), bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) that will strengthen efforts to onshore production of PPE in the United States by requiring federal agencies to issue long-term contracts for American-made PPE.”
Read CPA’s full letter here.
