Dear AMMA Members and Allies,

First and foremost, thank you for your support during this busy, productive, and up-and-down year.

We’ve been busy here at AMMA, most recently holding our monthly Board meeting in person in Washington D.C. Many members joined us in D.C. for Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)’s Industry Day. It was great to meet with leaders from the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and to elevate the focus on medical supplies like PPE as part of our country’s overall preparedness needs. We also met with leadership on the Hill including Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma and Representative Ron Estes of Kansas.

We’ve also been hard at work elevating AMMA membership priorities in the media. AMMA members Blue Star NBR and United Safety Technology were featured in an extensive NPR digital story that frames the challenge of this time for our industry well: “More medical gloves are coming from China, as U.S. makers of protective gear struggle”. For those who prefer to get their news via earbuds, the story was also featured in a shorter NPR excerpt on All Things Considered and separately on Marketplace.

And last but not least, we welcomed a new member to AMMA. Join us in welcoming Caymex Industrial Solutions to the team.

The U.S. is facing emerging threats like disruptions to supply chains at the Panama Canal, ongoing monopolization of imports by China, and the potential for new emerging viral illnesses. In the face of these challenges, we know it is more important than ever to develop a robust domestic industry for PPE production, and we are honored to work alongside you all to ensure this becomes a reality.

Thank you for your continued partnership, and keep an eye out for additional updates in the coming weeks as this year comes to a close.

Warm regards,

ERIC AXEL

Executive Director, AMMA