Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-MO-04) applauded the Department of Defense and Department of Health and Human Services for awarding a $20 million contract to On Demand Pharmaceuticals to bolster production of critical pharmaceutical components within the United States.
“This announcement is welcomed news as the United States works to reclaim control over pharmaceutical supply chains. In their current state, with geopolitical adversaries like China having significant control, these supply chains present both public health and national security threats to our nation.
Right now, China has the ability to attack the United States without firing a single shot. Their control over the pharmaceutical supply chain and the lack of government oversight and accountability, as seen during this global pandemic, gives the Chinese Communist Party the ability to directly alter critical drugs by inserting harmful substances into medication used by our servicemembers and manipulate the supply of medications they need while on duty.
While this is truly a grave national security concern, these vulnerabilities extend to all Americans as well. Beijing has continuously proven that it cannot be a trusted, responsible actor in the world. We must make it a top priority to protect American citizens from China’s deceitful and manipulative behavior,” Hartzler concluded.
Congresswoman Hartzler, together with Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA-03), has urged President Trump and his Administration to bring pharmaceutical manufacturing and its supply chains back to the United States.
The two introduced, last October, H.R. 4710, the Pharmaceutical Independence Long-Term Readiness Act, to strengthen U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturing while ending the dependency on unsafe and unreliable alternatives from foreign nations. Provisions of this legislation were included in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act.
This summer, they also sent a letter to President Trump urging further executive action on securing pharmaceutical supply chains.
For further information, contact Danny Jativa in the Washington, D.C. office at 202-225-2876 or at danny.jativa@mail.house.gov.
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