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WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) pressed US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on the steps the Administration is taking to ensure the United States has adequate supplies of personal protective equipment during the coronavirus outbreak, including respirators, masks, and other equipment. According to HHS, 65 percent of the 300 million N95 are manufactured in China and Mexico.

Video of Dingell asking questions of Secretary Azar is found here.

“It is a national security threat that 65 percent of respirators that can keep people safe from Coronavirus are coming from China,” stated Dingell. “We need to ensure the productions of these kind of respirators and essentials are built in this country so we are not dependent on anyone else.”

Dingell continues to vigorously monitor the coronavirus and work with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and related federal agencies to ensure all preventative measures are taken to monitor and educate travelers and the public from the recent outbreak in China. Dingell and Upton expressed concerns about the supply chain of American automotive parts due to the temporary closure of Chinese factories. Dingell asked the CDC for an update on coronavirus screenings at international airports such as Detroit Metro. Dingell pressed leading social media companies to take steps to stop the spread of misinformation as it relates to the Coronavirus.

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