Support Surges in House for Bringing Back Supply Chains From China

[Right_in_Virginia]

Support Surges in House for Bringing Back Supply Chains From China
Washington Free Beacon, Apr 18, 2020

Support for returning medical manufacturing from China to the United States is building in the House of Representatives, as lawmakers look to disengage from the country that gave the world the novel coronavirus.

At least three proposals have emerged in recent weeks that would use government purchasing and regulatory authority to encourage production of pharmaceutical ingredients, personal protective equipment, and other medical goods to return to the United States.

Republicans have led the charge, but House Republican Conference chair Liz Cheney (Wyo.) told the Washington Free Beacon, "there is bipartisan support for repatriating supply chains in the House."

The push for repatriation comes as the PRC faces increased scrutiny for its mishandling of and propaganda about the coronavirus epidemic. A new generation of congressional China hawks, meanwhile, sees the crisis as a chance to awaken their colleagues to the threat of supply chain dependence. As Rep. Michael Waltz (R., Fla.) told the Free Beacon, "the current crisis has put a gigawatt spotlight" on the entanglement between the United States and its biggest geopolitical adversary.

Waltz is the main sponsor of the House version of the Strengthening America's Supply Chain and National Security Act, one of several competing proposals that would require pharmaceutical firms to label the country of origin of the ingredients they use, as well as reimposing "buy American" mandates for pharmaceuticals on the DoD, VA, and other government agencies.

Waltz's bill, like others, aims to reduce the extent to which key parts of the American medical system are now made in China. An estimated 40 percent of the world's active pharmaceutical ingredients are sourced in the PRC. China also makes many American generic drug imports, including 95 percent of ibuprofen, 70 percent of acetaminophen, and 40 to 45 percent of penicillin. The slowdown attributable to the coronavirus's effect on Chinese manufacturing has already created the possibility of a shortage of over 150 drugs, according to an FDA report.


More:  https://freebeacon.com/policy/support-surges-in-house-for-bringing-back-supply-chains-from-china/

[Right_in_Virginia]

If this isn't a no-brainer at this point, then we've got some major changes in congress to make this November.

[sneakypete]

The push for repatriation comes as the PRC faces increased scrutiny for its mishandling.......

"Mishandling"???? That's what they are calling it now?

That's like trying to claim you raped someone by accident.

Or shot into a crowd and had no idea the bullets would hit someone.