Research and Technology Subcommittee Chairwoman Stevens Holds Bipartisan Teleconference on Manufacturing USA COVID-19 Response and Recovery
(Washington, DC) – Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research & Technology held a bipartisan teleconference with Ms. Chandra Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Manufacturing times Digital (MxD); Dr. Kelvin Lee, Director of the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL); and Mr. John Wilczynski, Executive Director of America Makes so that the Subcommittee can carry out its oversight of how Manufacturing USA institutes are responding to the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis and how these institutes can address the potential long-term impacts of coronavirus on the U.S. manufacturing sector.
“Over the last several weeks, manufacturers across the U.S. have come together to serve our nation by retooling their production lines to make medical supplies that our doctors, nurses, and other essential workers need to respond to the ongoing health crisis,” said Chairwoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) of the Subcommittee on Research and Technology. “They are also planning for the rapid manufacture of COVID-19 tests and vaccines. Manufacturing USA institutes have played an essential role in this response by rapidly mobilizing their innovations and their national networks of manufacturers of all sizes who are looking for ways to help our nation in these trying times. The institutes and their partners did not wait for Federal funds or direction to get started on this work, but I think it will become clear from this briefing how much more they can accomplish with additional support.”
During the call, the Members and panelists discussed the work these three Manufacturing USA institutes are conducting to aid in the development of COVID-19 testing and vaccines; to support small and medium-sized manufacturers that are producing PPE and other medical equipment to respond to the ongoing health crisis; to best position the Manufacturing USA network to respond to future national crises; and to support the long-term health of the U.S. manufacturing sector. Additionally, participants on the call examined how Manufacturing USA institutes have been leveraging their networks, national reach, and existing funding to respond to the pandemic, and what additional resources could help strengthen their response.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in dramatic changes to American life and presented all of us with an enormous challenge,” said Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). “The Manufacturing USA institutes have a crucial role to play in confronting this challenge whether through the production of critical equipment such as personal protective equipment, testing kits and medication or in assisting small- and medium-sized manufacturers to solve supply chain issues. Just last week, we heard about some of the work Manufacturing USA Institutes have done to help produce critically needed equipment. Even as the Institutes continue their work to fight this pandemic, it is important to consider the lessons learned from this effort and to invest in improvements that will allow manufacturers to better respond to future crises.”
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