Congressman Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) on Thursday praised recent actions taken by Vice President Mike Pence to stop the shipping of American-owned medical supplies to other countries.

“It is the height of irresponsibility for America to ship our medical supplies to foreign countries when Americans desperately need those supplies here,” said Brooks in a statement accompanying the letter.

The representative for Alabama’s fifth district commented further, “I thank Vice President Pence and the Coronavirus Task Force for putting Americans First as we battle this once-in-a-century pandemic.”

The shipments of supplies had been coming from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a federal agency dedicated to supporting countries less fortunate than the United States.

According to media reports, Pence paused all shipments of protective gear to other countries upon learning that a part of the federal government was shipping medical supplies overseas

Pence also ordered the coronavirus task force he oversees to scrutinize all U.S. aid deliveries. The vice president maintains that some equipment the United States has an excess amount of will be shared with America’s allies who are in turn alleviating shortages in America.

“We applaud this decision, and commend the Task Force for taking decisive action as it manages this once-in-a-century health crisis,” wrote Brooks in his letter, which was signed by seven other U.S. Representatives.

“Until we have the capacity to produce enough PPE and medical equipment to fill anticipated supply gaps in our health care system and to replenish our domestic stockpiles, we respectfully request that the Task Force continue its moratorium on shipments of government-owned medical supplies to foreign nations,” concludes the letter.

The full text of the correspondence can be read here.

Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: henry@new-yhn.local or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.