CARY – INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, along with a broad coalition of industry organisations and labour unions, representing a broad spectrum of manufacturers and workers who stepped up to make essential PPE and other products throughout COVID-19, have written to President Biden and congressional leaders outlining recommendations on specific policy initiatives that must be adopted to re-establish a permanent PPE industry in the United States.
The letter highlights the efforts of the US textile industry and its exemplary workforce throughout this crisis, which, say the signatories, clearly demonstrates that the domestic industry has the technical capabilities and existing capacity to make the United States self-sufficient in terms of its national PPE needs. However, the letter warns that the permanence of this self-sufficiency is dependent on the development of government policies designed to help domestic manufacturers survive the current economic crisis and incentivize the long-term investment needed to bring PPE production back onshore. "If appropriate policies are not implemented, the valuable and substantial progress made over the past year to onshore a vibrant PPE industry will evaporate in the face of China’s global manufacturing dominance in the PPE sector," the letter says.
The associations are requesting that President Biden and Congress adopt the policy recommendations outlined in the letter through legislation, executive order and other appropriate means.
The recommendations include adopting a Berry Amendment for PPE procurement (which prioritizes domestic supplier), incentivizing private sector purchase of US-made PPE, and providing funding assistance for private companies to reconstitute domestic PPE supply chains.
The coalition sent a letter to President Biden and a second letter to Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) outlining these requests.
