MADISON – Assembly Assistant Democratic Leader Representative Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton) joined her legislative colleagues in calling on President Donald Trump to invoke the full authority of the Defense Production Act (DPA). Provisions of the DPA will allow the United States to begin mass-producing the personal protective equipment (PPE) needed in addressing the COVID-19 outbreak in Wisconsin.
“Swift action is needed to provide our healthcare workers with the necessary equipment to fight COVID-19. The DPA provides the federal government many tools to jump-start the mass-production of PPE and other medical supplies. My colleagues and I are calling on the president to invoke the full authority of the DPA to help Wisconsin in our effort to stem the spread of this disease,” said Representative Hesselbein.
The DPA includes mechanisms to prevent price gouging and bidding competitions between states. President Trump has called on General Motors and 3M to begin producing ventilators and masks, but the full authority of the DPA is required for the pandemic across the country.
“As we state in our letter to the president, we require the full capacity of American industry and federal resources to provide for the national defense as the current situation escalates by the day. Our state requires federal assistance to respond to the needs of our communities.”
