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WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06) and Congressman Darren Soto’s (FL-09) bipartisan amendment to increase funding for the FDA to enhance the security and reliability of U.S. supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic for food, pharmaceuticals, and other essential medical equipment and supplies through technologies such as blockchain passed the House of Representatives. This bipartisan amendment was included in H.R. 7608, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 2021.
“The need for secure food and drug supply chains is critical, particularly as our country continues to disperse resources to fight COVID-19 ,” said Rep. Schweikert. “I was pleased to see my bipartisan amendment pass to help ensure we are ready for the next steps in fighting this virus. By utilizing blockchain technology, we can enhance the reliability of our delivery services and ensure our food and medical supplies are properly disbursed.”
“Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic has inevitably shown us the importance of protecting Florida’s food supply and our precious crops,” said Rep. Soto. “Our amendment helps put safe, nutritious food on Americans’ tables and increases investments to enhance the security and reliability of our supply stockpiles though blockchain technology.”
Background:
This amendment increases and decreases funding by $2,276,000 for the collaborative effort of the Office of Regulatory Affairs and other offices within the FDA to provide further resources and further implementation of the Food and Veterinary Medicine Program Strategic Plan to enhance the security and reliability of U.S. supply chains during COVID-19 for food, pharmaceuticals, and other essential medical equipment and supplies through technologies such as blockchain.
This builds on efforts advanced by the House Appropriations Committee to support FDA’s food safety modernization and food traceability efforts, and blockchain programs already piloted by the FDA, and this additional funding is meant to enhance the “distributed trust” benefits of blockchain technology and allow the FDA to take advantage of increased transparency, security and informed decision-making to rapidly address threats and increase the reliability and security of U.S. supply chains
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