Bill Overview
Title: Make PPE in America Act
Description: This bill requires certain federal procurement contracts for personal protective equipment (PPE) to be long-term (at least two years in duration) and for domestically manufactured PPE, with certain exceptions such as for nonavailability. The bill also addresses related issues, such as authorizing the Department of Homeland Security to transfer excess PPE or medically necessary equipment to the Department of Health and Human Services during public health emergencies.
Sponsors: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals requiring or dependent on PPE for healthcare services
Estimated Size: 18000000
- The global healthcare workforce is approximately 59 million.
- A significant portion of global healthcare workers depend on PPE for protection, especially during pandemics.
- PPE manufacturing involves both production workers and those in the supply chain, impacting both domestic and international workers depending on where the PPE is produced.
Reasoning
- The Make PPE in America Act primarily affects healthcare workers, manufacturers, and the supply chain in the United States.
- It is expected that a certain percentage of the US healthcare workforce will potentially benefit from increased PPE availability and security from domestic production sources.
- Manufacturing jobs may see a boost in productivity and job security due to the sustained demands from federal procurement contracts.
- Not everyone in the healthcare sector might directly experience changes in wellbeing, particularly those in administrative roles away from direct patient contact.
Simulated Interviews
Nurse (New York, NY)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy should ensure we have enough PPE supply.
- Domestic production might make us less reliant on imports.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Manufacturing worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It could secure my job for a bit longer.
- Finally, we are making things in America again.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Hospital Administrator (Houston, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If prices stay stable due to local production, it could help.
- We need timely access to quality equipment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Software engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our company might develop tools for domestic PPE manufacturing.
- It's an indirect effect, but we can contribute.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired (Albuquerque, NM)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that alleviates PPE shortages helps the elderly access better care.
- The reliance on local production gives me some peace of mind.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Supply Chain Manager (Seattle, WA)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could mean more stable supply chains, which is positive.
- The pressure on my job could reduce, leading to less stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Public Health Official (Chicago, IL)
Age: 45 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved PPE access can significantly impact our pandemic readiness.
- It's crucial for preserving public health standards.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Medical Student (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reliable PPE access is vital for our training and safety.
- I'm less worried about shortages impacting my future job.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Small Business Owner (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If the supply becomes more stable domestically, it can help my business.
- Potentially lowers costs, improving margins.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Farmer (Rural Ohio)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy doesn't seem directly relevant to my daily life.
- SUPPLY chain stability might benefit the broader community though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $800000000 (Low: $600000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 2: $850000000 (Low: $650000000, High: $1050000000)
Year 3: $875000000 (Low: $675000000, High: $1100000000)
Year 5: $900000000 (Low: $700000000, High: $1150000000)
Year 10: $950000000 (Low: $750000000, High: $1200000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The added cost for domestically manufactured PPE might be offset by increased employment and local production.
- Ensuring quality and compliance with safety standards within domestic production is critical.
- Availability of raw materials for PPE production must be ensured to avoid dependencies that might negate policy benefits.