Every year, Chuck commits to traveling to all62 counties in New York to meet with constituents.
On August 10, 2023, with nearly 300 critical drugs from cancer drugs to everyday generics needed to treat asthma and infections are in extremely short supply, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer called on Congress to address this issue with his new 4-point legislative solution, as well as pushed the FDA to keep working to limit the worst shortages right now and protect patients and doctors in the Mohawk Valley and across Upstate NY. Schumer detailed his legislative plan to repair the nation’s drug supply chains and thwart future crises, explaining that with drug shortages already impacting Herkimer patients, legislative action will be necessary to address systemic problems and avoid delay in treatments for patients who need them.
Schumer’s 4-point legislative plan will craft legislation based on the following goals:
First, giving more transparency and insight into drug shortages. The administration, doctors, hospitals and patients need to know when a shortage is coming, when demand is outpacing supply, where companies are sourcing their raw materials from, when there are safety issues and more. More information means more opportunities to fix vulnerabilities before they become problems.
Second, making sure there are enough manufacturers producing drugs at enough volume to have reserve and contingency supplies.
Third, improving production safety and quality. Numerous shortages are caused by safety and quality control problems at manufacturing plants, and improving safety and quality standards would help avoid those problems in the first place.
Fourth, incentivizing domestic manufacturing and onshoring. It creates a series of vulnerabilities and problems when the country’s generic drug market is so reliant on foreign actors, and bringing that supply chain back to the United States will reduce shortages and create good-paying new jobs for Americans.