John,

Here’s how bad this can get: In parts of Italy, if you’re 80 years old and need a ventilator because you’ve caught COVID-19, you’re out of luck.¹ They have a ventilator shortage, and they’ve chosen to prioritize younger patients. In America, where our leaders have dragged their feet on providing adequate testing, social distancing requirements, or giving medical professionals the protective equipment they need, there will be areas where it will be that bad.

Where do you draw the line? Should younger or healthier patients take precedence over those who may otherwise have only a few years left?

It doesn’t have to be this way. We (barely) have time to increase our hospital capacity if the President orders it, under the Defense Production Act. In the face of the president’s inaction, a bipartisan group of Congressmembers have introduced the Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act, which would direct the president to require U.S. manufacturers to pivot their production toward in-demand resources including respirators, ventilators, masks and personal protective equipment for medical professionals.

For some reason, Trump has refused to give this order. Every day that he waits will literally cost lives. This bill will save them.

ADD YOUR NAME: Tell Congress to pass the Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act and demand the government immediately begin production of ventilators and personal protective equipment for doctors and nurses!

Our Social Security system exists to provide a life of dignity for older Americans and Americans with disabilities. We fight for universal benefits because we believe that we’re all truly in this together.

No doctor should have to make a choice between who to save. Yet while Congress fights over giving the Trump administration a $500 billion slush fund to hand out without accountability, Trump is refusing to take steps to shield a doctor from that choice.

In solidarity,

Michael Phelan
Social Security Works