Medical Supplies for Pandemics Act of 2021
Bill: S.1693 | Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. (D-CO)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Medical Supplies for Pandemics Act of 2021
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take specified actions, as part of its management of the Strategic National Stockpile, to establish and maintain domestic reserves of critical medical supplies.
Specifically, HHS must (1) create incentives for domestic manufacturers of medical supplies to increase emergency stocks and diversify geographic production; (2) purchase, lease, or enter into joint ventures with respect to facilities and equipment to produce medical supplies; and (3) work with distributors to refresh and replenish medical supplies. HHS must also submit a report to Congress concerning the details of any purchase, lease, or joint venture.
The department's authority under the bill to make purchases, leases, or joint ventures for medical supplies terminates on September 30, 2024.

To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the use of the 
 Strategic National Stockpile to enhance domestic medical supply chain 
  elasticity and establish and maintain domestic reserves of critical 
               medical supplies, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Medical Supplies for Pandemics Act 
of 2021''.

SEC. 2. SUPPLY CHAIN FLEXIBILITY MANUFACTURING PILOT.

    (a) In General.--Section 319F-2(a)(3) of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-6b(a)(3)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(K) enhance domestic medical supply chain 
                elasticity and establish and maintain domestic reserves 
                of critical medical supplies (including personal 
                protective equipment, ancillary medical supplies, 
                testing supplies, and other applicable supplies 
                required for the administration of drugs, vaccines and 
                other biological products, medical devices, and 
                diagnostic tests) by--
                            ``(i) creating incentives for the domestic 
                        manufacturing of medical supplies--
                                    ``(I) to increase emergency stock 
                                of critical medical supplies; and
                                    ``(II) to geographically diversify 
                                production of such supplies;
                            ``(ii) purchasing, leasing, or entering 
                        into joint industrial-based expansion ventures 
                        with respect to, facilities and equipment for 
                        the production of medical supplies; and
                            ``(iii) working with distributors of 
                        medical supplies to manage the domestic 
                        reserves established under this subparagraph by 
                        refreshing and replenishing stock of critical 
                        medical supplies.''.
    (b) Reporting; Sunset.--Section 319F-2(a) of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-6b(a)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
            ``(6) Reporting.--Not later than September 30, 2022, the 
        Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
        of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report on the 
        details of each purchase, lease, or joint industrial-based 
        expansion venture entered into under paragraph (3)(K), 
        including the amount expended by the Secretary on each such 
        purchase, lease, or joint venture.
            ``(7) Sunset.--The authority to make purchases, leases, or 
        joint ventures pursuant to paragraph (3)(K) shall cease to be 
        effective on September 30, 2024.''.
    (c) Funding.--Section 319F-2(f) of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 247d-6b(f)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Supply chain elasticity.--
                    ``(A) In general.--For the purpose of carrying out 
                subsection (a)(3)(K), there is authorized to be 
                appropriated $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 
                through 2024, to remain available until expended.
                    ``(B) Relation to other amounts.--The amount 
                authorized to be appropriated by subparagraph (A) for 
                the purpose of carrying out subsection (a)(3)(K) is in 
                addition to any other amounts available for such 
                purpose.''.
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