Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. HUDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3635, Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act of 2021, a bill I am proud to have introduced along with Representative Slotkin.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the dangers of relying on foreign countries for needed medical supplies.

H.R. 3635 will reduce our dependence on foreign sources of supplies like PPE by boosting domestic manufacturing to make these products here in the United States. It would also make critical improvements to our Strategic National Stockpile to ensure it is full and items are ready to be deployed when needed.

Strengthening our stockpile of PPE and domestic manufacturing has never been more important for our economy and our national security. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation so we can be better prepared for the next public health emergency.

Madam Speaker, additionally, I am proud to have introduced H.R. 4032, the Open RAN Outreach Act, a bill that will also be considered by this House today.

The Open RAN Outreach Act will strengthen our telecommunications supply chains and help protect small and rural communications providers from Chinese-backed companies. Protecting our supply chains and pushing back against China are more critical than ever before, especially for our vulnerable telecommunications networks. Providers backed by the Chinese Communist Party have tried to undercut the market and expand their outreach, particularly in our underserved rural communities.

By passing H.R. 4032, we can encourage a competitive market of trusted vendors to expand network access across our country. Just like H.R. 3635, this bill is also critical not just for our economy, but for our national security.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it as well.

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