Senators Hassan, Cornyn Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support State Medical Stockpiles and Keep Americans Safe

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced bipartisan legislation to extend the state medical stockpile grant program and encourage regional coordination of these stockpiles. This bill builds upon Senator Hassan’s successful efforts at the end of last year to establish the state stockpile grant program and improve the effectiveness of the Strategic National Stockpile.

“One of the clear lessons learned from the pandemic is that federal and state governments must be equipped and ready to distribute medicine and personal protective equipment in an emergency,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation expands on our efforts to create state medical stockpiles and encourages regional coordination between states, which will help keep Granite Staters and all Americans safe.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in our National Strategic Stockpile, leading to shortages of critical drugs, vaccines, and medical supplies,” said Senator Cornyn. “This bill would empower states to build and maintain their own medical stockpiles so they can respond quickly to emerging infectious diseases in the future.”

The State Strategic Stockpile Act of 2023 would extend the authority of the state medical stockpile grant program through fiscal year 2028, while also encouraging state grant recipients to coordinate regionally and share best practices with one another. The bill would also clarify that state and local officials should be consulted by federal advisors to the Strategic National Stockpile.

This legislation is part of Senator Hassan’s efforts to ensure that the United States is prepared for any future public health emergencies. Senator Hassan worked with her colleagues to pass into law at the end of 2022 her bipartisan Strengthening America’s Strategic National Stockpile Act, which helps end America’s dependence on China for critical supplies, boost domestic manufacturing, and improve transparency to ensure the effectiveness of the Strategic National Stockpile during future public health emergencies.

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