On the recordMarch 12, 2020
on Tuesday, my colleague Senator Menendez and I introduced the Securing America's Medicine Cabinet--or SAM-C Act--to encourage an increase in American manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients. These are termed APIs. We did this because China dominates this portion of the pharmaceutical manufacturing and given last night's news, I wanted to come back for a moment and highlight the important work that is being done in Tennessee and across the country to support our Nation's response to this coronavirus pandemic. Many Americans are very concerned, as they ought to be, about the availability of testing. As you all know, this virus is novel, which means we did not have test kits on the shelves before the outbreak started. The tests that we do have are not instant. When people think of an instant test, they think of a flu test or a pregnancy test. The test that is required for this virus is not an instant test, but this is in the works, and we do have top scientists at Vanderbilt University and other institutions who are developing faster techniques, but, for now, any test offered must be sent to a lab to be processed and analyzed. Although these tests provide important information, we must continue to focus on preventing transmission where we can. Some of the other work that is being done will help lead us to a faster path for antivirals and for vaccines. There is work in East Tennessee, right outside of Knoxville, at the Oak Ridge National Lab.…
