H.R. 6531 – Medical Supplies for Pandemics Act of 2020

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 11:51 AM UTC

The Medical Supplies for Pandemics Act of 2020 amends the Public Health Service Act to let the Strategic National Stockpile be used to improve the flexibility of the U.S. medical‑supply chain. It directs the government to create and keep domestic reserves of critical items such as personal protective equipment, medical devices, and diagnostic supplies. The bill also provides funding and authority for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to work with manufacturers and distributors to increase stock, diversify production locations, and manage the reserves.

Key Provisions

Adds a new subparagraph that authorizes actions to enhance supply‑chain elasticity and maintain domestic reserves of critical medical supplies.
Allows the Secretary to create incentives for manufacturers to increase emergency stock and geographically diversify production.
Permits the government to purchase, lease, or enter joint ventures for facilities and equipment needed to produce medical supplies.
Requires the Secretary to report details of any purchases, leases, or joint ventures to congressional committees by September 30 2022.
Sets a sunset provision ending the authority for these purchases, leases, or joint ventures on September 30 2023.
Appropriates $500 million for each fiscal year 2020 through 2023 (total $2 billion) to fund these supply‑chain activities, in addition to any other existing funds.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

April 17, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 17, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

April 17, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued April 17, 2020

I

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6531

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 17, 2020

Mrs. Dingell (for herself and Mrs. Walorski) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

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

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Medical Supplies for Pandemics Act of 2020.

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 medical supply chain elasticity and establish and maintain domestic reserves of critical medical supplies (including personal protective equipment, ancillary medical 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 manufacturers 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 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.

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(b)

Reporting; sunset

Section 319F–2(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d–6b(f)) 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 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, 2023.

.

(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 2020 through 2023, 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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