Graham makes stop at medical gown material maker

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today visited Milliken & Company in Pendleton to discuss the need to strengthen the United States medical supply chain and increase production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in this country instead of relying on imports from nations like China. The Milliken facility produces medical gown fabric to support healthcare professionals. “With our experience in textile and advanced manufacturing, South Carolina is one of the strongest states – maybe above all others – who can make America independent from China when it comes to medical supplies,” said Graham noting that according to the most recent data China was the estimated source of more than 50 percent of the world’s imports of respirator and surgical masks, medical googles, and protective garments. Next week Graham will introduce legislation in the Senate to spur manufacturing in the United States by creating domestic procurement requirements for the nation’s medical stockpile.“Coronavirus has been a painful wakeup call that we are too reliant on nations like China for critical medical supplies,” said Graham. “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that South Carolina leads the way when it comes to getting the medical supply chain out of China.” Graham  maintains that in addition to being too reliant on China, China is also not a reliable supply chain. Yesterday American officials were forced to withdraw approval from more than 60 Chinese manufacturers who were trying to pass off defective products like N-95 masks.  One Chinese mask only filtered out between 24 and 35 percent of particles, well below the 95 percent standard that gives N95 masks their name.