AFTER LAUNCHING PUSH IN ORLEANS COUNTY, SCHUMER SUCCESSFULLY HELPS RESOLVE BAXTER INTERNATIONAL’S CHIP SHORTAGE FOR WESTERN NY PLANT PROTECTING 300 PERSON WORKFORCE AND ENSURING COMPANY CAN KEEP PUMPING OUT LIFESAVING MEDICAL TECH
Schumer Worked Nonstop For Months Helping Connect Baxter With Chip Supplier Texas Instruments, And Even Personally Calling TI To Ensure Orders Continued To Be Fulfilled So Orleans Workers Would Be Able To Continue Their Essential Work – Now Baxter Has Been Able To Secure The Necessary Chips To Complete Work And Says This Issue Has Been Resolved
Schumer’s Bipartisan CHIPS & Science Bill Signed – Already Spurring Major Investment In Upstate NY Like Edwards Vacuum To Genesee County – Will Also Help Bring Semiconductor Supply Chain Back From Overseas Helping Address Chip Shortfalls In The Long-Term
Schumer: Now Orleans County’s Baxter Can Keep Pumping Out The Medical Devices Without Worry Of Missing Chips!
After standing with workers of Baxter International in Orleans County promising to fight to help solve their microchip supply chain issues, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced that the company has now said that his relentless advocacy for months has been successful and that the previous shortages that hindered production have been resolved. Schumer wrote a letter and personally called Texas Instruments (TI), pushing for months alongside Baxter to work with TI on delivering the chips needed to address shortage challenges and ensure bottlenecks did not impact Baxter’s 300 person workforce in Medina or the company’s ability to make essential medical technology like infusion pumps that are used in the treatment of COVID-19.
“I stood with the workers of Orleans County’s Baxter International and promised I would fight to help ensure they had the microchips they need to keep up production and continue pumping out lifesaving medical devices. Now after months of advocacy, I am proud to say a promise made is now a promise kept and the company has informed me that they received the orders and commitments needed to address the critical microchip supply chain problems they faced with their pumps,” said Senator Schumer. “Hospitals and patients in New York rely on Baxter’s life-saving products built in Medina and I will always pump up the pressure to protect NY jobs and ensure people can receive the healthcare they need. In tandem with my historic CHIPS and Science Bill, already spurring major investment like Edwards Vacuum in Genesee County, this is just what the doctor ordered to keep up manufacturing in Western New York.”
“We
cannot thank Senator Schumer and his staff enough for their relentless work on
behalf of our Medina employees and patients to help us secure the chips
necessary to produce our life-saving devices,” said José (Joe) E. Almeida, chairman, president and chief executive
officer, Baxter International. “Hospitals need our infusion pump technology
to care for patients in New York and across the country – a need that is even
more critical now given the rising flu, RSV and COVID-19 cases.”
In August, the senator personally visited Orleans County to launch a two-pronged plan to address the microchip shortage that hindered production at the facility in Medina. Schumer explained that Baxter’s Spectrum IQ infusion system, built in Medina, requires approximately 70 chips per pump, and in previous months they have had to slow down production significantly due to the lack of a sufficient supply of chips. Schumer said that Baxter’s infusion pumps are classified as in “critical need” by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the nation’s pandemic response and so it was crucial their manufacturing supply chain be preserved to continue to produce these critical devices.
Schumer immediately began working with Texas Instruments (TI), one of Baxter’s primary chip suppliers for this site, to help prioritize components for their lifesaving medical devices so that Baxter’s production of these pumps would not be impacted. After months of working closely with Baxter and TI with the senator even personally calling TI’s top brass to discuss the supply chain challenges, Baxter has confirmed that Schumer’s relentless support has been successful and they have the necessary chips in hand to produce their critical infusion pump technology and preserve the company’s 300 person workforce in Medina.
A copy of Schumer’s recent letter to Texas Instruments appears below:
Dear Mr. Templeton,
I write to
request Texas Instruments’ (TI) assistance to continue to provide the required
computer chip components to Baxter International to ensure it can continue to
manufacture lifesaving medical devices that the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) has determined are in “critical need” including Baxter’s
Spectrum IQ Infusion Pump which is manufactured in Medina, New York, as well as
the PrisMax and PrismaFlex renal replacement therapy (CRRT) devices.
These pumps and devices are critical in the clinical treatment of
COVID-19 patients, providing lifesaving care in our nation’s efforts to combat
the pandemic.
As such, I understand TI recently received a copy of a letter from HHS’ Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response that indicated HHS has now “identified a critical need” for these lifesaving products and urged Baxter to prioritize the manufacturing of these medical devices. Furthermore HHS wrote, “it is critical that Baxter’s supply chain is not impacted so we also request that any work, services, and materials requested by Baxter be prioritized in any possible way.” As you know, TI is Baxter’s supplier for several critical components required for the manufacturing of these devices. Recent inconsistent delivery of these TI components is now threatening the continued manufacturing of these critical medical devices. Ensuring the availability of these component parts is not only vital to Baxter’s Medina, NY workforce, but to hospital patients and medical personnel throughout the country who depend on these lifesaving devices.
Therefore, I ask that TI honor this HHS request and work with Baxter to deliver necessary TI components for their medical devices as quickly as possible. I appreciate your quick attention to this matter and your assistance in making these components available.
Sincerely,
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