Major news today from Senator Elizabeth Warren and Public Citizen.

Warren — along with Representative Jan Schakowsky in the House — is announcing a bill called the COVID-19 Emergency Manufacturing Act.

This comprehensive legislation would help make sure we can produce the hospital supplies and medicines to survive this crisis without relying solely on for-profit corporations to do what’s in the public interest.

Public Citizen is working in the House and Senate to pass this critical legislation, which would establish a new Emergency Office of Manufacturing for Public Health within the federal government with the following powers and responsibilities (among others):

• Make (or contract with other entities to make) personal protective equipment, medical devices and pharmaceutical products related to COVID-19 and provide them domestically at no cost.

• Make (or contract with other entities to make) other medical products that are in short supply and provide them at a fair cost.

• Begin manufacturing personal protective equipment and diagnostic materials related to the coronavirus within one month of the law being enacted.

• Begin building manufacturing facilities for any COVID-19 vaccine at the earliest clinical signs of it being safe and effective.

• Use patents and other confidential information related to COVID-19 in exchange for reasonable compensation to holders of such information.

The law would also require that at least one out of every three contracts the new office enters into be reviewed by an Inspector General and that the office submit monthly reports to Congress about its activities.

Elizabeth Warren’s COVID-19 Emergency Manufacturing Act is the game-changer our country needs.

Sign on in support of Elizabeth Warren’s COVID-19 Emergency Manufacturing Act.

Add your name now.

Thanks for taking action.

Stay safe.

- Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen

P.S. This message is part of our ongoing outreach to help you stay informed and involved as our nation and the world grapple with the coronavirus emergency. Public Citizen — like many nonprofits and other small businesses — is feeling the financial strain as this crisis intensifies. If you can, please consider donating to support the critical work we’re doing together. Thank you.
 
 
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