Ernst Works to Secure Medicine Supply Chain from China

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) joined her colleagues to introduce a bipartisan bill to improve federal coordination for essential medicine supply chains that could impact the healthcare system, helping our nation mitigate drug shortages and address future health emergencies.

“Depending on China for critical pharmaceutical ingredients poses a national security threat,” said Ernst. “Through this bipartisan effort, we can identify essential medicines to strengthen the supply chain and reduce our reliance on our adversary. By taking action now, we can protect the health of our citizens in the future.”  

The Mapping America’s Pharmaceutical Supply (MAPS) Act would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to:

• Map the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain and find weaknesses,
• Help create a database of essential medicines, and
• Collect information about where these medicines and ingredients are made and their supply chain details, including reliance on China.

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