By Donna Gammarato | April 20, 2026
UISS Calls on Congress to Strengthen America's Medical Supply Chain
UISS Executive Director Donna Gammarato signs onto national letter urging markup of the Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act
As healthcare providers across Upstate and rural New York know all too well, having the right medical supplies at the right time is not a logistical convenience — it's a matter of patient safety. That's why United Iroquois Shared Services (UISS) has added its voice to a growing chorus of healthcare organizations urging Congress to advance the Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act (MSCRA, H.R. 2213).
Why This Legislation Matters
America's medical supply chains have never been more vulnerable. A convergence of economic pressures, geopolitical tensions, and natural disasters has exposed deep fragilities in how we source, produce, and distribute critical medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and other essential healthcare supplies. When those supply chains break down, the consequences ripple directly into patient care — affecting availability, distribution, and cost.
Much of the problem stems from over-reliance on a single supplier, country, or region. True resilience requires a two-pronged strategy: expanding domestic manufacturing on U.S. soil and cultivating trusted international trade partnerships that provide geographic diversity and redundancy.
What MSCRA Would Do
The MSCRA would give the United States Trade Representative (USTR) the authority to negotiate medical supply chain security agreements with partner nations. These agreements would:
This legislation would complement recent wins for American manufacturing — including permanent bonus depreciation and R&D expensing provisions secured in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — by building a more secure foundation for the healthcare products that depend on that manufacturing base.
Our Commitment to Upstate and Rural New York
For UISS, this isn't an abstract policy debate. Our member hospitals and healthcare providers across Upstate and rural New York depend on reliable access to medical supplies every single day. Supply disruptions hit rural and community hospitals especially hard, where there are fewer backup options and thinner margins for error.
We are proud to stand behind this bipartisan legislation and urge the House Ways and Means Committee to move the MSCRA forward for markup. A strong, sustainable medical supply chain is foundational to the quality care our communities deserve.