The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) has upheld the passing of the infrastructure bill by the US Senate. The council believes this will provide funds worth billions of orders to revitalize the nation’s roads, bridges and railways and help reconstitute a domestic supply chain for personal protective equipment (PPE).

The bill also includes a version of the Make PPE in America Act, legislation co-sponsored by Senator Rob Portman and Senator Gary Peters. It ensures all PPE purchased by the Departments of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services and Veterans Affairs are Berry Amendment-compliant; guarantees long-term contracts to US manufacturers; and creates a tiered preference for PPE made in the Western Hemisphere by its free trade partners using US components, after domestic manufacturing capacity has been maximized.

Last year, NCTO members retooled their production chains in response the nation’s need for PPE and other medical products. It will continue to urge the government to purchase Berry-compliant products containing 100 per cent domestic content for PPE to help bolster the full US production chain in the future, says Kim Glas, President and CEO.