Meng Leads NYC Delegation in Calling on Trump to Address Shortage of Protective Equipment and Medical Technology
March 20, 2020
Sends letter to President
QUEENS, NY – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) this afternoon led a New York City Congressional delegation letter to President Trump calling on him to invoke the Defense Production Act to immediately address the shortage of personal protective equipment and medical technology.
The text of the letter is below and a copy of the correspondence can be viewed here.
* Note: The letter does not contain signatures since offices are working remotely for safety measures.
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March 20, 2020
Dear Mr. President:
We write to you to address the shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and critical medical technology in hospitals that are treating COVID-19 patients.
As Members representing New York City, each of us has heard from constituents and hospital administrators in our districts that our hospitals are already strained. For example, an emergency room doctor at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens said they are forced to use equipment that should be used for a single patient over the course of their entire shift. This not only puts already vulnerable healthcare workers at risk, but also risks the recovery of patients as germs can spread from this overused protective gear. Some hospitals are already forced to use one ventilator for multiple patients. New York City hospitals will need thousands of ventilators over the next few weeks, and more tests have been needed for months. These needs are urgent.
We appreciate your announcement this week that you intend to invoke the Defense Production Act (DPA), as it will serve a critical need for our city and our nation. Now, we urge you to expedite the development of a sourcing list of needs from mayors and governors, and match them with manufacturers. You mentioned that "hopefully there will be no need" to invoke the DPA, but we assure you – the need is immediate, and the need is great. We must expedite these contracts today – so that our frontline healthcare workers can continue to fight COVID-19, and for the safety of everyone.
We look forward to your prompt response on addressing this important issue.
Sincerely,
_________________ _________________
Grace Meng Yvette D. Clarke
Member of Congress Member of Congress
_________________ _________________
Nydia M. Velázquez Thomas R. Suozzi
Member of Congress Member of Congress
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Carolyn Maloney Gregory Meeks
Member of Congress Member of Congress
_________________ _________________
Hakeem Jeffries Jerrold Nadler
Member of Congress Member of Congress
_________________ _________________
José E. Serrano Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Member of Congress Member of Congress
_________________ _________________
Max Rose Adriano Espaillat
Member of Congress Member of Congress
_________________ _________________
Eliot L. Engel Kathleen M. Rice
Member of Congress Member of Congress