URGES HHS SEC. AZAR TO USE ‘SIGNIFICANT POWERS OF THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT’ TO IMMEDIATELY ADDRESS SCARCITY OF LIFE-SAVING MEDICAL EQUIPMENT March 20, 2020 | 202-228-7561 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar urging him to immediately use the powers delegated to him by President Trump to order the production and distribution of ventilators, which are critical to treating individuals infected by COVID-19. As Sen. Cruz wrote: "On Wednesday, March 18, 2020, President Trump signed an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA)...