Breitbart article

Senate Democrats on Thursday obstructed the passage of bipartisan legislation that would save lives amid the novel coronavirus outbreak plaguing the U.S. by increasing access to “vitally-needed respirators,” Republicans said.

The bill would also “create certainty for mask manufacturers,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) noted via Twitter on Thursday. Stores across the United States are reportedly selling out of face masks and other personal care products.

Echoing comments made on Twitter in a statement issued Thursday, Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), one of the bill’s sponsors, declared:

The Senate had an opportunity to act quickly and pass my bipartisan bill to address the shortage of respirators facing our country during this coronavirus outbreak. As a result of the objection from Senate Democrats, the health and safety of our health care providers and first responders is at risk. I will continue to seek a way forward for this critical legislation.

Senator Deb Fischer

✔ @SenatorFischer

Today the Senate could have passed my bill w/ @SenatorSinema to address the shortage of respirators during this #COVID19 outbreak. As a result of the objection from @SenateDems, the health and safety of our health care providers and first responders is at risk.

24.1K

5:36 PM - Mar 12, 2020

Twitter Ads info and privacy

13.5K people are talking about this

The bill, introduced last week by Sens. Fischer and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), would amend the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act to address a shortage of respirators, the Nebraska Republican’s office explained.

“I’m on the floor now speaking on my bipartisan bill with [Sen. Sinema]. Our health care workers & first responders tell us they lack respirators. We must ensure they have access to the equipment they need to combat [coronavirus or COVID-19] cases,” Fischer wrote on Twitter on Thursday.

(more at link)