Frontline Health Care Workers Assistance Act

To provide for the expedited procurement of equipment needed to combat COVID–19 under the Defense Production Act of 1950. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Frontline Health Care Workers Assistance Act 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 (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 50 U.S.C. 4501 (2) Additional purchases Not later than 7 days after receiving the report required by subsection (a), the President shall issue DX 50 U.S.C. 4501 (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) (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

Summary: Frontline Health Care Workers Assistance Act This bill directs certain actions to procure equipment necessary to prevent, identify, and mitigate cases of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The National Response Coordination Center of the Federal Emergency Management Agency must, within seven days, submit a report to Congress and the President that (1) assesses the need for equipment, including personal protective equipment and ventilators, across the United States; and (2) identifies the industry sectors and manufacturers capable of fulfilling purchase orders for such equipment, as well as government-owned and privately owned stockpiles of such equipment that could be refurbished. Within 24 hours, the President must issue a purchase order with the highest priority rating under the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) for a specified number of N-95 respirators and face masks. (DPAS is used to prioritize national defense-related contracts, subcontracts, and purchase orders.) Within seven days of receiving the center's report, the President must also issue priority purchase orders for the equipment identified in the report under authorities provided by the Defense Production Act of 1950. (That act confers upon the President a broad set of authorities to influence domestic industry in order to provide essential materials and goods for the national defense.) The bill waives certain requirements under the act related to congressional notification and authorization and makes specified funds available for these efforts.