The Senate took up a bi-partisan bill that would have assure medical professionals that there would be surgical masks and respirators for everyone that needs them. The bill was sponsored by Republican Senator Deb Fischer and Democrat Senator Kyrsten Sinema, the bill would amend the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act to address the shortage of masks and respirators. This should not be a controversial bill.
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. pic.twitter.com/E3Pgq8LxyQ
— Senator Deb Fischer (@SenatorFischer) March 12, 2020
Fischer said in a statement:
“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.”
.@SenatorFischer’s bipartisan PREP Act would expand medical professionals’ access to vitally-needed respirators and create certainty for mask manufacturers. It is not controversial. The Senate could have passed it today.
But Senate Democrats refused to let it move forward. pic.twitter.com/OFMgOdC2eq
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) March 12, 2020
Can you see why the Democrats do not want our medical professionals to have the weapons they need to fight this disease? I can only think of one reason and quite frankly it scares me. Democrats want to maximize the number of deaths and then blame it on President Trump for political advantage. I could be wrong but if I am why did the Democrats kill the bill?