1,000 signatures reached
To: The United States Senate and The United States House of Representatives
Pass the Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act immediately
Congress needs to immediately pass the Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act, to force President Trump to implement the Defense Production Act of 1950. By coordinating the manufacturing and distribution of scarce in-demand medical supplies, we can address the growing inefficiencies within all 50 states and thousands of hospitals that are currently competing against each other for medical supplies. By doing so we can get our front-line medical workers PPE.
Why is this important?
Since the first case of the Covid-19 was diagnosed in the United States on January 20th, the response from the federal government to this pandemic has been slow and ineffective. From personal protective equipment to ventilators and tests, healthcare workers are still being left to treat Covid-19 without the supplies they need.
Many clinics and hospitals have run out of respirators and even simple procedural masks are running low. In some hospitals, providers are being asked to use a single mask for multiple days even though these masks were designed for one time use. New reports are coming out everyday highlighting the desperate, war-like situation in some of our nations’ hospitals, with patients lining the hallways and refrigerated trucks being used as a supplementary morgues.
In the United States, the only institution with the power to lead a strong and coordinated response, ensure adequate production of medical equipment, and provide widespread testing is the federal government. Our leaders need to step up, right now, to ensure the health and wellbeing of our healthcare workers while also taking the necessary steps to slow this pandemic. That starts with passing the Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act
This is not a partisan political issue. Our loyalty is to our patients and our colleagues who are on the frontline sacrificing so much for their communities. We need our federal government to do their job.
By passing the Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act, Congress can force the White House to take this critical action. Congress must immediately address this issue when they return to session for the next emergency Covid funding bill.
Without sufficient access to testing and necessary protective equipment, the crucial shortage will become healthcare workers. We must do something now. Sign the petition. Demand your members of Congress vote to support the bill.
Why is this important?
I’m a doctor in Portland and I am spending all of my free time volunteering with #GetUsPPE.
My fellow healthcare workers don’t have the PPE they need to protect themselves during this pandemic. Losing these workers due to infection or quarantine not only risks their health but also endangers the stability of our entire healthcare system.
I am afraid. I’m afraid that I might become infected and die, or worse that I might transmit the virus to my loved ones. I am afraid tThat my fellow doctors and nurses and support staff might die. That my hospital might run out of PPE. That I can’t adequately treat my patients. That they might die alone and afraid.
Meanwhile, President Trump continues to drag his feet on using the Defense Production Act, our most important law supporting the production of necessary supplies in times of emergency. Due to this delay, Senators Chris Murphy and Brian Schatz have introduced the Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act (Senate Bill 3568) to force the White House to utilize the Defense Production Act, and the bill is gaining momentum.
But Congress won’t act unless enough of us demand, loudly, with one voice to #GetUsPPE and all of the other supplies and equipment like ventilators and medications that we need to save lives.
Will you help me get Congress to pass this bill? Add your voice to ours. #GetUsPPE
Dr. Val Griffeth, MD, PhD
GetUsPPE.org