Contact: Charity Clark, Chief of Staff, 802-828-3171
Attorney General T.J. Donovan today joined a coalition of 15 attorneys general in urging the federal government to fully utilize the Defense Production Act to immediately prioritize the production of masks, respirators, and other critical items needed by health care workers, first responders, and law enforcement as they respond to the COVID-19 crisis.
“Gratitude to our healthcare providers, law enforcement, and first responders is not enough,” said Attorney General Donovan. “We need to ensure that those on the front lines have the equipment they need to protect themselves so that they can continue to care for the rest of us.”
In the letter sent earlier today, the coalition urges President Trump to fully use the Defense Production Act to dramatically increase (1) health care capacity; (2) the supply of personal protective equipment for healthcare providers, law enforcement, and other first responders; and (3) COVID-19 testing capacity. Those responding to the COVID-19 pandemic need personal protective equipment, such as N95 respirators, surgical masks, face shields, eye protection, gloves, gowns, sanitizers, cleaning supplies, and thermometers. There is also a nationwide need to increase the supply of the reagents and swabs used for COVID-19 testing.
In signing the letter, Attorney General Donovan joins the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
A copy of the letter can be found here.