Press Release
Markey Campaign Launches #MakeTheMasks to Hold Donald Trump Accountable, Provide Health Care and Frontline Workers with Desperately Needed Equipment
Trump yet to fully utilize Defense Production Act to mobilize, coordinate manufacturers to make respirators, ventilators, masks and more for nurses, doctors, essential workers
Thursday, April 2, 2020
BOSTON – Nurses in hospitals are being asked to re-use masks. The government’s emergency stockpile of respirator masks, gowns, gloves and other medical supplies is almost depleted. The list of essential workers who need protection is growing. But Donald Trump is refusing to use one of the most powerful tools he has — the Defense Production Act — to mobilize a massive manufacturing effort on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Today, to hold Donald Trump accountable for manufacturing and equitably distributing the surgical masks, gloves, ventilators, respirators, and other medical supplies needed by hospitals and frontline workers, the Markey for U.S. Senate campaign is launching #MakeTheMasks to get the information the American people deserve. The #MakeTheMasks effort is demanding Donald Trump fully utilize the Defense Production Action and answer three straightforward questions every day:
Which companies are making personal protective equipment?
How much equipment is being made?
Where is the equipment going?
To learn more about the #MakeTheMasks campaign visit: https://www.edmarkey.com/
“America’s nurses, doctors, first responders, and essential workers face a dire shortage of masks and critical protective gear, but Donald Trump refuses to use all tools available to get this equipment made and out to states. Nurses are being asked to re-use masks, state officials are getting into bidding wars with other states, and hospitals are being forced to pay massively marked-up prices for the life-saving supplies they need. We deserve a plan from the White House about how these urgent equipment needs will be met. Trump must stop wasting time and immediately and fully utilize the Defense Production Act to compel and coordinate industry to produce the PPE our workers need.”
Watch the video HERE
Supporters who wish to get involved in the effort should use the hashtag #MakeTheMasks
Ed Markey has put a spotlight on the lack of supplies for front line health care workers through conversations with:
Massachusetts General Hospital President Dr. Peter Slavin
Massachusetts Nursing Association President Donna Kelly Wiliams
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Media Contact
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