Press Releases
Graves Requests Supply Chain Briefing from Biden AdministrationTransportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) asked John Porcari, the Port Envoy to the White House Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, to update the full Committee about his role and the Task Force’s actions in addressing the supply chain crisis. The Task Force was established on June 8, 2021, to coordinate a whole-of-government response to address near-term supply chain challenges. However, the Committee has not yet had a briefing from the task force. In his letter to Porcari, Graves said, “With rising inflation currently at seven percent – a 39-year high – our economy is in turmoil. While the Committee has heard from many entities about efforts to address bottlenecks in the supply chain, we have not heard directly from the Administration.” Graves added, “Public outreach and statements aside, our Members need to know how you and the Task Force are working with the Department of Transportation (DOT) to alleviate this crisis, while at the same time working to implement the recently enacted Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, P.L 117-58). Given your position as Port Envoy, and your recent statement from the White House press podium that ‘it’s hard to tell if the supply chain problems have peaked,’ Committee members would welcome the opportunity to be updated on your activities and discuss ongoing supply chain challenges. Communication is critical to address these complex supply chain problems together; however, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has not received information on any of the Task Force’s efforts.” Committee Republicans first convened a supply chain roundtable on November 3, 2021, with stakeholders from various points in the supply chain to gain insights about the ongoing issues and challenges. In order for Committee Members to gain a better understanding of what the Task Force and administration are doing to address these issues, Graves asked that the Committee be briefed no later than February 16, 2022. |