SENATE RESOLUTION 22

(By Senators Caputo and Beach)

[Introduced March 18, 2021]

Urging the Governor of West Virginia to form a task force with our congressional representatives, labor organizations, and other industry leaders to call upon the President of the United States to invoke the Defense Production Act of 1950, order the Morgantown plant at the Chestnut Ridge facility of the former Mylan Pharmaceuticals to be retrofitted and placed into production relating to the manufacturing, packaging, and shipping of critical, life-saving medical supplies including vaccinations, and empower the Governor of West Virginia to save the lives of our friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens. 

Whereas, The Defense Production Act of 1950 grants the President of the United States a broad set of authorities to influence domestic industry in the interest of national defense and can be used across the federal government to shape the domestic industrial base and provide essential materials and goods needed for the national defense; and

Whereas, The State of West Virginia and entire United States currently faces a severe shortage of medical supplies, including life-saving vaccinations which are vital in responding to the ongoing Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic; and

Whereas, The failure to massively and expeditiously increase vaccination production endangers the lives of our fellow citizens; and

Whereas, It is critical that the State of West Virginia utilize its citizens, resources, and facilities to their maximum potential to defeat this COVID-19 virus and protect the health, safety, and welfare of our friends and neighbors; and

Whereas, The Morgantown plant at the Chestnut Ridge facility of the former Mylan Pharmaceuticals, a vital facility, is scheduled to shut down on July 31, 2021; and

Whereas, This vital facility could be quickly repurposed to produce life-saving medical supplies including COVID-19 vaccinations while also preserving over 1,500 West Virginian jobs; and

Whereas, West Virginians always answer the call for assistance from our nation, whether that means service in our armed forces, producing the energy needed to power our homes, or stepping up to do our part in responding to the needs of the COVID-19 pandemic; and

Whereas, The employees of the Morgantown plant at the Chestnut Ridge facility of the former Mylan Pharmaceuticals will rise to this new challenge, continue their decades of proven labor, empower the Governor of West Virginia to continue his mission of saving the lives of West Virginians, and be able to, once again, demonstrate to the State of West Virginia, colleagues and fellow workers, and industry leaders their value by their hard work, expertise, and resolve; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby urges the Governor of West Virginia to form a task force with our congressional representatives, labor organizations, and other industry leaders to call upon the President of the United States to invoke the Defense Production Act of 1950, order the Morgantown plant at the Chestnut Ridge facility of the former Mylan Pharmaceuticals to be retrofitted and placed into production relating to the manufacturing, packaging, and shipping of critical, life-saving medical supplies including vaccinations, and empower the Governor of West Virginia to save the lives of our friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens; and, be it  

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Governor of West Virginia, the Honorable James C. Justice II.