Pasco Reporter

Washington, DC: Earlier this week, Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Mike Lawler (R-NY), and James Moylan (R-GU) introduced the Supply Chain Security and Growth Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to leverage Investment Tax Credits (ITCs) to facilitate the movement of critical U.S. supply chains to Puerto Rico from less reliable locations such as China.

Currently, 252 drugs, including antibiotics and chemotherapies, are facing shortages in the U.S. with no pattern of predictability. Additionally, 80 percent of all active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for essential medicines in the U.S. have no domestic manufacturing source. In 2021, China was the leading source for U.S. pharmaceutical imports by weight and value, accounting for significant portions of ibuprofen, hydrocortisone, acetaminophen, and penicillin imports.

Bilirakis is an original co-founder of the House Domestic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Caucus. This bill aligns with the Caucus’s mission to advance legislation that incentivizes more domestic production for essential medicines to reduce American reliance on foreign sources, prevent potential supply chain disruptions, and ensure a steady supply of pharmaceuticals during public health emergencies or natural disasters.

"Throughout the country, Americans are continuing to suffer from shortages in critical medications because our pharmaceutical supply chain relies too heavily on foreign sources – especially those located in China- which are vulnerable to disruptions amidst growing Chinese aggression," said Congressman Bilirakis. "I’m proud to be working with my colleagues on this important legislation that will solve this problem by encouraging the development of medications that are Made in the USA."

"Right now, the lion's share of our active pharmaceutical ingredients are being manufactured in Asia, predominantly China, posing a severe threat to our medical supply chains and national security," Congresswoman Malliotakis said. "Our legislation seeks to incentivize manufacturers to 'near shore' their facilities to friendlier locations such as Puerto Rico to not only reduce our reliance on foreign nations and protect Americans from life-threatening drug shortages but promote American jobs and economic development in our U.S. territories. Moving our critical supply chains will allow us more control over production processes and quality standards and more opportunities to invest in and manufacture materials for the pharmaceutical, semiconductor, and aerospace sectors."