Washington, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Representative Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08) introduced H.R. 6607, the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Enhancement and Transparency Act, in response to the failures of the SNS to provide personal protection equipment, ventilators and other vital equipment during the current COVID-19 pandemic.  H.R. 6607 will require the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the National Biodefense Science Board to establish the National Emergency Biodefense Network (“the Network”) that will use private blockchain technology to monitor the availability of supplies in the SNS and in each state, ensuring both have adequate inventories. H.R. 6607 will also provide funding to create state repositories and to establish state-based blockchain nodes for tracking purposes.

“Throughout the COVID-19 crisis we have watched health care providers and centers pushed to their breaking points as they risk their lives to provide vital care to their communities,” said Rep. Lynch.  “Many of these providers have been forced to work without sufficient equipment and supplies. Unfortunately, when states have sought help from the SNS, their requests have gone unanswered.  We depend on the SNS to supplement state reserves of biodefense supplies and equipment and H.R. 6607 will ensure the readiness of the SNS to respond to future crises. By adopting a private blockchain system we can verify the status of our biodefense capacity in real-time which will allow us to be better prepared.”