Democrats urged the White House to invoke a Truman-era act to boost the production of U.S. medical supplies, saying the need is comparable to that of getting bombers to fight in World War II.
In a Monday letter to the White House, 57 House Democrats led by Michigan Rep. Andy Levin urged the administration to invoke the Defense Production Act. The lawmakers linked the law to World War II, but it was actually passed in 1950 in response to the Korean War.
“During World War II, our country adapted to the demands of the time to produce mass quantities of bombers, tanks, and many small items needed to save democracy and freedom in the world,” the lawmakers said. “We know what the demands of this time are, and we must act now to meet these demands.”
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The 1950 law gives the president broad authority to influence domestic industry, particularly its industrial base, in order to provide for the national defense. It was based on war powers acts of World War II. The act gives the president the power to require that businesses accept federal contracts, effectively giving companies no choice on the matter, and wide authority to raise funds for the contracts. It also allows the president to block foreign mergers or acquisitions of domestic companies.
The lawmakers argued that the law could be used to “direct the domestic production of equipment currently in short supply,” such as protective equipment, and to avoid having to “wait for disruptions in the global supply chain to subside.”
The White House is planning a “Buy American” executive order for later this week to boost domestic production of medical supplies by directing emergency funds to domestic facilities. It has not indicated whether the Defense Production Act would be invoked.
