If we were a Senator, here’s what we’d want to know…
As domestic manufacturers of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies, we proudly provide essential products that protect healthcare workers, first responders, and communities. Repeated disruptions to the global supply chain from pandemics, weather, and other natural disasters have exposed critical vulnerabilities, underscoring the need for robust domestic manufacturing.
As President Trump’s cabinet nominees prepare to face Senate Committees, seek Senate approval, and eventually take office, we urge them to prioritize policies that strengthen American manufacturing and supply chain resilience. Here are the questions we hope each nominee will answer:
Health and Human Services (HHS): Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is an outspoken advocate for personal health autonomy. HHS is also a critical pipeline for the Federal Government’s procurement of PPE and provides a model for private industry regarding medical innovations. We would ask him…
- What steps will you take to ensure the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services comply with the Make PPE in America Act’s domestic procurement mandates?
- How will you ensure a consistent federal commitment to domestic PPE production, even during non-emergency periods?
- How will you strengthen ASPR’s Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) management to prioritize high-quality, American-made medical supplies?
- What role does HHS play in collaborating with CMS to expand domestic procurement initiatives to include additional critical supplies, such as nitrile gloves, gowns, and syringes?
Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): Dr. Mehmet Oz
Dr. Oz is a cardiothoracic surgeon and television personality. He is known for hosting “The Dr. Oz Show” and was a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania in 2022. We would ask him…
- How will you build on CMS’s CY 2025 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) Final Rule to support hospitals in purchasing American-made PPE?
- What steps will you take to expand CMS policies to additional critical supplies, such as needles, syringes, and respirators, to strengthen domestic supply chains further?
- How will you ensure reimbursement policies align with the broader goal of supporting domestic medical manufacturing?
State Department: U.S. Senator Marco Rubio
Senator Marco Rubio is recognized for his firm stance on U.S. foreign policy, particularly concerning adversarial nations. He is a stalwart for an America First foreign policy. We would ask him…
- What diplomatic strategies will you employ to ensure global health crises don’t jeopardize America’s access to essential medical products?
- China consistently acts in bad faith as a global competitor. How would you continue to use foreign policy to protect domestic industries, such as expanding tariffs and enforcing existing trade laws?
Veterans Administration: Former Rep. Doug Collins
Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia is an Air Force Reserve chaplain and a Republican from Georgia who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2021. The VA is the government’s second-largest employer, with over 350,000 employees and 1,700 locations. We would ask him…
- The supply chain faces challenges from weather, epidemics, and global competition. What policies would you implement to ensure the VA prioritizes domestically produced PPE and medical supplies, bolstering national supply chain resilience and reducing reliance on imports?
- How can you help fully implement the Make PPE in America Act? One way might be to support American manufacturers in scaling up production to meet the VA’s needs for PPE and other medical supplies. Another would be to use best practices to replenish the Strategic National Reserve continuously with domestic PPE and medical supplies.
- As a significant purchasing organization, would you advocate for financial incentives, long-term contracts, or other measures to stimulate growth in domestic manufacturing capacity?
Defense Department: Pete Hegseth
Pete Hegseth is a former National Guard officer who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay. He is also a noted Veterans Advocate. We would ask him…
- The Defense Production Act (DPA) has been a critical tool for supporting domestic manufacturing. Will you advocate for its expanded use to bolster PPE and medical supply production in the U.S.?
- How will you collaborate with manufacturers to meet defense-related medical supply needs without relying on imports from adversarial nations?
- What strategies will you implement to ensure defense-related procurement prioritizes domestic production and supports national supply chain resilience?
Commerce Department: Howard Lutnik
Howard Lutnik is Chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald. Lutnick is known for his leadership in the financial sector, his strong advocacy for domestic manufacturing, and his advocacy for cryptocurrency. We would ask him…
- What measures will you take to ensure that federal procurement prioritizes American-made PPE and medical supplies? How will you support American manufacturers in reducing strategic dependencies on foreign suppliers, particularly from China, while fostering competitive domestic production?
- How will you address unfair trade practices and tariffs that disadvantage U.S. manufacturers in favor of foreign suppliers? What is your plan to enhance trade enforcement and address tariff circumvention schemes such as transshipment through third countries like Malaysia, Cambodia, and Vietnam?
- What steps will you take to close the de minimus loophole? This loophole, often exploited by e-commerce giants like Temu and Shein, allows duty-free entry of packages valued under $800 with minimal scrutiny, facilitating the influx of goods into the American market.
- Congress has demonstrated bipartisan leadership in confronting China’s economic threats. The Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party is just one example. Nearly all of Congress supports domestic manufacturers against Chinese bad actors and actions. How will you harness that political power to protect American jobs?
Homeland Security: Governor Kristi Noem (South Dakota)
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem also served as the state’s representative in Congress. She has made immigration and national security her priorities and has said she would broaden cooperation among government agencies. We would ask her…
- What steps will you take to enhance Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) enforcement capabilities to combat tariff circumvention and transshipment schemes undermining domestic manufacturing?
- How will you ensure collaboration between CBP and domestic manufacturers to strengthen supply chain verification and enforce trade rules?
United States Trade Representative (USTR): Jamieson Greer
Jamieson Greer is an attorney and served as Chief of Staff to USTR Robert Lighthizer during the first Trump administration. He strongly advocates for stricter economic policies against China and greater enforcement of existing trade rules. We would ask him…
- What actions will you take to reform the de minimis shipping threshold and address vulnerabilities undermining U.S. medical manufacturing?
- How will you strengthen enforcement of Section 301 tariffs and prevent tariff circumvention that disadvantages American manufacturers?
- What is your strategy for addressing China’s strategic control over key supply chains and ensuring a level playing field for U.S. manufacturers?
A Call to Action
These questions ask our leaders to commit to America’s health security and economic strength. President Trump’s cabinet nominees can convey that they value domestic manufacturing as a cornerstone of national preparedness by answering them clearly and taking decisive action.
The stakes are high. The decisions made in the coming months will shape America’s ability to respond to future health crises, protect frontline workers, and sustain vital industries. As domestic manufacturers, we stand ready to partner with the federal government and every agency within it to build a stronger, more resilient supply chain. But we need leaders who prioritize American workers, innovation, and security.
We anticipate hearing their answers, as their responses will shape the future of American manufacturing and health security.