The "Domestic SUPPLY Act of 2025" aims to bolster U.S. readiness for public health emergencies by establishing partnerships with domestic manufacturers to ensure a reliable supply of American-made personal protective equipment for federal, state, and local agencies, while also assessing the impact of PPE requirement changes on frontline worker safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
H. Griffith
Representative
VA-9
The "Domestic SUPPLY Act of 2025" aims to bolster U.S. readiness for public health emergencies by establishing partnerships between the Department of Health and Human Services and domestic manufacturers to ensure a reliable supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). It mandates that federal funds be used to procure PPE made in the United States and requires a report on how changes to PPE requirements have impacted frontline worker safety since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This bill prioritizes secure supply chains, adherence to quality standards, and fair pricing for PPE.
New 'Domestic SUPPLY Act' Aims to Boost U.S. Production of PPE, Mandates Federal Purchases by 2028
The "Domestic Security Using Production Partnerships and Lessons from Yesterday Act of 2025," or "Domestic SUPPLY Act of 2025," is a new bill that pushes for American-made personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks and gloves. It sets up a program where the government partners with U.S. manufacturers to guarantee a steady supply of this gear for future health crises. The goal? To make sure we're not relying on other countries when things get tough.
Made in America, Mandated
The core of the bill (SEC. 2) requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to team up with domestic manufacturers. By 2026, 50% of the PPE supplied to the federal government by these partners needs to be made here, ramping up to 100% by 2028. These companies also need to be majority-owned by U.S. citizens and have secure supply chains. Think of it like this: if a company wants a guaranteed government contract for PPE, they've got to make it here, and make it well, meeting CDC and OSHA quality standards.
Feds Can Only Buy American, With Exceptions
Section 3 of the bill is pretty straightforward: no federal funds can be used to buy foreign-made PPE. This applies to federal, state, and even local agencies. There are some exceptions, similar to those in existing procurement laws (section 8302 of title 41, United States Code), but any agency using an exception has to provide a detailed justification. Imagine a local fire department needing specialized gear only made overseas – they could still get it, but they'd have to explain exactly why they couldn't go with a U.S. option.
Checking the Rearview on PPE Changes
Section 4 requires a report looking back at how changes to federal PPE requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 and 2021) affected the safety of frontline healthcare workers. This report, due within a year of the bill becoming law, will come from the Secretary of Health and Human Services, with input from the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. It's basically a check-in to see if rule changes helped or hurt the folks on the front lines.
Potential Upsides and Downsides
While the bill aims to boost American manufacturing and create jobs, there are potential hitches. Requiring domestic production could mean higher costs, at least initially. There's also the question of whether U.S. supply chains can ramp up fast enough to meet demand during a major emergency. On the flip side, a strong domestic PPE industry means less reliance on foreign suppliers and a more secure supply chain in the long run, which is a big win for national security. The bill sponsor's top donors include groups in the health and pharmaceutical industries, which could see increased government contracts if this bill passes, raising potential conflict of interest concerns.