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Biden Needs to “Step Up” on the Supply Chain Crisis

T&I Members hear from stakeholders on pressing concerns that need immediate attention

Washington, D.C., November 3, 2021 | Justin Harclerode (202) 225-9446
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Republican Members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a roundtable today with stakeholders from various points in the supply chain. The discussion provided Members with insights about the ongoing issues and challenges facing the private sector in dealing with the supply chain crisis.

On the heels of President Biden’s recent public pressuring of the private sector to “step up” and address the supply chain crisis, T&I Republicans wanted to hear directly from supply chain industries about what policies and actions could further help or harm their ability to move products more efficiently across the supply chain.

“The President’s demand for the private sector to ‘step up’ is insulting if this Administration doesn’t do the same and ensure that it isn’t supporting and implementing policies that are actually making matters worse,” T&I Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) said.

“Today’s discussion with stakeholders highlighted a number of ongoing and difficult issues for us to consider, but I would again say to the President: ‘you step up.’  Stop pursuing the numerous burdensome regulations, policies, and spending priorities that are exacerbating this supply chain crisis.”

Among the issues that T&I Republicans discussed with stakeholders today:

  • Vaccine mandates that are making it harder to hire and retain workers.
  • Overextended unemployment benefits that are discouraging people from going back to work.
  • Inflationary spending that is driving up operations costs.
  • Opposition to domestic energy production that is increasing our energy costs.
  • Infrastructure policies that emphasize social and environmental justice rather than prioritizing actual improvements to our infrastructure or addressing supply chain issues.
  • Port infrastructure funding in pending legislation that focuses on electrification and decarbonization – not real capacity or efficiency improvements.
  • State and local laws and regulations that are creating additional hurdles to the movement of interstate commerce.

    The roundtable was well attended by Committee Republicans.  Ranking Member Graves was joined by Reps.  Brian Babin (R-TX), Troy Balderson (R-OH), Mike Bost (R-IL), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Rick Crawford (R-AR), Garret Graves (R-LA), Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Michael Guest (R-MS), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Nancy Mace (R-SC), Thomas Massie (R-KY), Troy Nehls (R-TX), Scott Perry (R-PA), David Rouzer (R-NC), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Michelle Steel (R-CA), Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), Randy Weber (R-TX), Daniel Webster (R-FL), and Bruce Westerman (R-AR).

    Full list of stakeholders at the roundtable:

  • John Butler, President and CEO, World Shipping Council
  • Lauren Brand, President, National Association of Waterfront Employers
  • Brooke Appleton, Vice President of Public Policy, National Corn Growers Association
  • Jonathan “Jon” Gold, Vice President, Supply Chain and Customs Policy, National Retail Federation
  • Bill Sullivan, Executive Vice President for Advocacy, American Trucking Associations
  • Chris Burroughs, Vice President of Government Affairs, Transportation Intermediaries Association
  • Fred Miller, Asst. General Counsel and Government Affairs Liaison, Association of American Railroads

     

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