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| RETAKING CONTROL OF AMERICA'S HEALTH CARE SUPPLY CHAIN |
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If there is anything that the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare it is that our country is too dependent on foreign sources of critical pharmaceutical and medical supplies. This week, I reintroduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to retake control of America’s health care supply chain.
The Food and Drug Administration reports that approximately 72 percent of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) used in the U.S. drug supply are manufactured in more than 150 countries, with 13 percent coming from China alone. The Manufacturing API, Drugs, and Excipients (MADE) in America Act will work to mitigate drug shortages while incentivizing the domestic manufacturing of drugs, API, personal protective equipment (PPE), and diagnostics.
The MADE in America Act would address vulnerabilities in the U.S. supply chain in two distinct ways.
First, for America's national security, the legislation incentivizes the domestic manufacturing of drugs and other medical supplies to make the U.S. supply chain less dependent on foreign countries like China. A new tax credit that would only apply to manufacturers operating in certain Opportunity Zones across the United States. This will work to bring manufacturing back to the United States through incentives aimed at leveling the playing field, rather than through punitive and ultimately counter-productive mandates.
Additionally, the legislation includes measures aimed at mitigating drug shortages including improving FDA reporting of facility inspections, working more closely with overseas regulators and streamlining FDA standardization processes for overseeing pharmaceutical manufacturing and the supply chain.
Learn more in this week's edition of Buddy's Briefing:
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| From Our Nation's Capitol |
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Monday, June 14, 2021: I’m in Atlanta this morning and up early and live on Mornings with Maria on Fox Business to discuss legislation that I have introduced to prevent Critical Race Theory (CRT) from being taught in our military and to discuss the origin of the COVID 19 virus. A link to my interview can be found here.
After our all staff conference call, I head to the Atlanta airport for my flight to Washington. Once back in my office in Washington, I join in on a virtual call with Capitol Strategy Healthcare Partners as we discuss the overwhelming challenges facing our rural hospitals today. Next, I head to an Energy and Commerce (E&C) Republican Forum where we discuss the Biden Environmental Agenda. A link to my questions can be found here. Afterwards, I head to our weekly Whip Team meeting before heading to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the week. After votes, I remain in the House Chamber and pay tribute to my good friend, Long County Sherriff Craig Nobles, whose department rescued 22 dogs from a brush fire recently. A link to my tribute can be found here.
Tuesday, June 15, 2021: Our weekly GOP Conference meeting is a little different this morning as we are all in person with no virtual attendance and for the first time since her election to the post, my fellow 2014 classmate, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), is presiding as our Conference Chair. Afterwards, I have a meeting with representatives from Health Agenda for America before heading to an E&C Health Subcommittee hearing on enhancing public health through vaccine legislation. A link to my questions can be found here. Next, I have a virtual call with Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) as we discuss the great work they are doing in research and development, particularly in the area of COVID-19. After our all staff conference call, I join in on a virtual call with National Infusion Center Association (NICA) to discuss the vertical integration within the Insurance/PBM/Pharmacy industries and the resulting increase in healthcare costs. Next, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to long time Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) deputy director Dr. Anne Schuchat who retired recently. A link to my tribute can be found here. Later, I head to the Capitol Visitors Center (CVC) press room where I take part in a press conference regarding legislation sponsored by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), the Fire Fauci Act (H.R. 2316). A link to my comments can be found here.
Once back in my office, I have a virtual call with Wolfson Children’s Hospital Association where I meet the Sampson family as part of the Children’s Hospital Association Family Advocacy Days. After a call with my good friend, Tybee Island Mayor Shirley Sessions, to discuss beach issues, I have a virtual call with TACKL Health, a great Savannah-based start-up company formed as COVID-19 took hold on the world. After heading to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day, I head off of Capitol Hill to receive the American Conservative Union Award in recognition of my conservative voting record during the 116th Congress. I am honored that I have received this award every session I have been in Congress.
Wednesday, June 16, 2021: After an early morning virtual call with the E&C Environment Subcommittee to discuss the markup scheduled for later in the day, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to Michael Mamalakis, who recently passed, Georgia State Representative Mickey Stephens, former Glynn County Police Chief Carl Alexander, who recently passed, and Liberty County native Davion Mitchell, an integral member of the Baylor Bears 2021 NCAA National Championship Basketball team. A link to my tributes can be found here, here, here and here.
Afterwards, I head to the E&C Environment Subcommittee markup of three bills, before joining in on a virtual call with Results GA to discuss the underlining issues of poverty in our communities. Later, I join in on a virtual call with the National Alliance to End Homelessness before joining in on a virtual call with the International Bottled Water Association. Next, I film two public service announcements for the Weather Channel and then head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day, a seven-vote series. Later, I return to the House Chamber for our second vote series of the day and remain in the Chamber where I participate in a special order on “Our Country in Crisis."
Thursday, June 18, 2021: I’m at a Doctor’s Caucus meeting first thing this morning as we meet with newly elected GOP conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) to discuss health care issues. Next, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to former Chatham County Commissioner David Saussy, who recently passed. A link to my tribute can be found here. After heading to an E&C member gathering in the Rayburn building, I head to the crypt in the Capitol where I record this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing. Next, I head to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day before joining in on our all staff conference call. Later, I have a roundtable virtual call with pharmacy groups to discuss health care issues before heading to the airport for my return trip to Atlanta.
Friday, June 18, 2021: After driving home from Atlanta late last night, I am glad to be back at our Band of Brothers bible study this morning in Garden City as our leader, Rev. Kenny Grant, brings us a great message pertaining to Father’s Day. Later in the morning, I head to our Savannah district office where I take place in a virtual call with the Independent Electrical Contractors before having a hybrid (a combination of in-person and virtual) meeting with members of the Georgia Realtors Association. Then we have a lunch to honor Tracy Dowdy who's served the people of Georgia's First
District as a caseworker for a number of years and is now pursuing a new opportunity. Next, I head to GAF-Standard Industries near the Georgia Ports in Garden City, to tour their commercial and residential roofing production facility. The company has been in the news recently where they received glowing reviews for their newly patented recycling technology for roofing shingles. After a great tour of the GAF facility, I head back to our Savannah office where I have a virtual roundtable with the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA). My last meeting of a very busy week is with Dr. Mark Johnson with Gateway Community Service Board as he gives me a tour of their new facility on Derenne Ave in Savannah. Along with the State of Georgia, Chatham County and devoted advocates like Dr. Johnson, this new facility has come to fruition and will serve as a provider of mental health, substance use and developmental disorders and disabilities for our community.
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