Now, as bipartisan lawmakers on Capitol Hill have urged Trump to act before it is too late, two Democratic senators are introducing legislation to try to force his hand.

Sens. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Brian Schatz of Hawaii are introducing a bill Monday to require the President to fully use the Defense Production Act to ensure the country has the crucial medical equipment it needs. Not only does the bill require the production of key equipment like ventilators and masks, the bill also requires the federal government to take control of the supply chain for that material.

"There's clearly bipartisan angst over the President's reluctance to take further measures on the manufacturing and supply chain for medical equipment," Murphy said in an interview with CNN. "It's such a no-brainer. There's a desperate need."

The Defense Production Act, legislation passed in 1950 on the cusp of the Korean War, provides the President with a broad set of powers to require businesses to "prioritize and accept government contracts" as well as "provide economic incentives" to ensure the US has the stockpiles it needs to handle an impending medical crisis.

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