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116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6398

To provide for the expedited procurement of equipment needed to combat COVID–19 under the Defense Production Act of 1950.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 26, 2020

Mr. Crow (for himself, Ms. Porter, Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York, Ms. Pressley, Ms. Barragán, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mrs. Fletcher, Mr. Suozzi, Mr. Neguse, Ms. Frankel, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Castro of Texas, Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Rouda, Mr. Cox of California, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Nadler, Mrs. Hayes, Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire, Mr. Malinowski, and Mr. Kilmer) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To provide for the expedited procurement of equipment needed to combat COVID–19 under the Defense Production Act of 1950.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “Frontline Health Care Workers Assistance Act”.

SEC. 2. Expedited procurement of equipment needed to combat COVID–19.

(a) Report required.—Not later than 7 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the National Response Coordination Center of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the Defense Logistics Agency and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services, shall submit to Congress and the President a report that includes—

(1) an assessment of the need across the United States for equipment necessary to prevent, identify, and mitigate cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (commonly known as “COVID–19”), including personal protective equipment and ventilators;

(2) an identification of the industry sectors and manufacturers most ready to fulfill purchase orders for such equipment; and

(3) an identification of government and privately owned stockpiles of equipment not included in the Strategic National Stockpile that could be repaired or refurbished.

(b) Purchase orders.—

(1) IMMEDIATE PURCHASES.—Not later than 24 hours after the enactment of this Act, the President shall issue a “DX” rated priority purchase order pursuant to Department of Defense Directive 4400.1 to procure 300,000,000 N95 respirators and facemasks under authorities provided by the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4501 et seq.).

(2) ADDITIONAL PURCHASES.—Not later than 7 days after receiving the report required by subsection (a), the President shall issue “DX” rated priority purchase orders pursuant to Department of Defense Directive 4400.1 to procure equipment identified under paragraph (1) of that subsection under authorities provided by the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4501 et seq.).

(c) Waiver of certain requirements.—The requirements of sections 301(d)(1)(A), 302(d)(1), and subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 303(a)(6) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4531(d)(1)(A), 4532(d)(1), and 4533(a)(6)) are waived for purposes of this section.

(d) Funding.—Amounts available in the Defense Production Act Fund under section 304 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4534) shall be available for purchases made under this section.