U.s. congressman Rodney davis proudly representing the 13th district of illinois

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, is among a bipartisan group of U.S. House members who have introduced a resolution calling on President Donald Trump to use the Defense Production Act to make sure there are enough health care supplies to test and treat COVID-19.

“As I continue to talk to health care providers throughout my district, they’re worried about having the medical supplies necessary to treat COVID-19,” Davis said in a statement Tuesday. “These are unprecedented times and we need all hands on deck. Utilizing the Defense Production Act would provide more direction and incentives for businesses to prioritize the equipment our health care providers are asking for. The sooner we contain this virus, the sooner Americans and businesses can return to normal life.”

According to a statement from Davis’ office, the Defense Production Act of 1950 does not nationalize industries, but instead provides the president with authorities to support domestic preparedness, response and recovery from natural hazards, terrorist attacks and other national emergencies.

The resolution states that the United States “faces severe shortages of medical supplies” to fight COVID-19, including test materials, ventilators and personal protective equipment. It references a 2005 federal study, cited in a Feb. 29 New York Times article, estimating that mechanical ventilators for 740,000 people would be needed in a severe flu pandemic, and “today, as the country faces the possibility of a widespread outbreak of a new respiratory infection caused by the coronavirus, there are nowhere near that many ventilators, and most are already in use. ...”