U.S. manufacturing sector contributes $2.65 trillion to the U.S. economy, employs nearly 13 million American workers and accounts for 10.3 percent of nation’s GDP
Washington, DC – In case you missed it, U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the committee, Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) applauded Senate passage of the bipartisan Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act. The Act would authorize the Department of Commerce to strengthen American supply chains for critical industries and emerging technologies by working with the private sector and U.S. government partners to anticipate and prevent future supply chain disruptions before they happen. In the process, it will also identify opportunities to grow manufacturing capacity and jobs and reduce costs for consumers.
“I am so proud that this bill passed the Senate and is one step closer to being signed into law,” said Sen. Blunt Rochester. “Americans are feeling the high costs of inflation and goods – and to help alleviate that burden and lower costs we need to fix the gaps in our supply chains. Addressing these shortages and disruptions will not only help the average American, but it has the opportunity to create good-paying jobs, strengthen our economy, and enhance our national security. Going forward, I will continue conversations with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that this vital piece of legislation makes it into law.”
“We must secure supply chains for critical sectors like transportation and communications, and for emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum,” said Sen. Cantwell. “When supply chains break down, manufacturers are forced to close production lines, and our economic and national security are put at risk. This legislation brings industry and government together to build supply chain resilience in order to avoid future disruptions like those we saw during the COVID pandemic.”
“Strengthening supply chains is essential to ensuring that groceries, fuel, household products, and every other consumer product is accessible and affordable,” said Sen. Blackburn. “To achieve a strong, resilient, supply chain, we must have a coordinated, national strategy that decreases dependence on our adversaries, like Communist China, and leverages American ingenuity. By establishing a supply chain resiliency program at the Department of Commerce, the U.S. government can better coordinate with private sector partners, identify risks, and increase our competitiveness.”
Geopolitical conflicts, natural disasters and the pandemic have highlighted the fragility of supply chains. These events have already caused significant delays and shortages, impacting everything from critical medical supplies and driving up the costs of consumer goods. The U.S. is heavily reliant on single countries for critical supply chain segments, including manufacturing components, critical minerals, and active pharmaceutical ingredients. This concentration poses a significant risk of disruption. Most U.S. companies currently lack full visibility into their supply chains, with estimates suggesting that more than 90 percent do not have complete transparency throughout their entire supply chain.
S.257 The Bipartisan Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act:
- Charges the Department of Commerce’s Assistant Secretary for Industry and Analysis with promoting the stability and resilience of critical supply chains.
- Creates a new government-wide “Supply Chain Resilience Working Group,” led by the Assistant Secretary, to prepare for and respond to supply chain shocks by mapping, monitoring and modeling U.S. supply chains for critical industries and emerging technologies in consultation with the private sector. The Group will identify any gaps or vulnerabilities for critical goods, including any gaps in manufacturing, warehousing, transportation and distribution.
- Requires the Assistant Secretary to evaluate the impact supply chain shocks could have on market stability and the current state of the U.S. manufacturing workforce and its needs. The initiative will identify opportunities to build manufacturing capacity in critical industries and emerging technology, and to create high-quality American jobs.
- Requires ongoing reporting to inform Congress and the public, including a “National Strategy and Review” on critical supply chain resiliency and U.S. manufacturing” that identifies critical and emerging technologies, industries and supply chains.
“The bipartisan Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act will play an important role in fostering greater collaboration between government and industry to strengthen supply chains and advance U.S. economic prosperity,” said Jason Oxman, President and CEO, ITI. “Resilient global supply chains are the cornerstone of American innovation leadership, and the global tech industry appreciates the dedicated work of U.S. Senators Cantwell, Blackburn, Blunt Rochester and Shaheen to bolster U.S. competitiveness.”
“The nation-wide network of more than 5,600 NAED distribution warehouses across the country provides a vital link between manufacturers and contractors who are working to electrify the nation and are a vital part of the critical infrastructure supply chain,” said Wes Smith, President and CEO, National Association of Electrical Distributors. “Our industry has made great progress to improve and understand the dynamics of the electric equipment supply chain since the pandemic, and the Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act will allow us to build upon this progress by working more closely with the Department of Commerce to map, monitor, and model supply chain vulnerably to avoid costly disruptions with an additional layer of oversight for the larger economy. We are grateful to Senators Cantwell, Blackburn, Blunt Rochester, and Shaheen for spearheading and supporting this important initiative.”
“The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) applauds the U.S. Senate for its passage of the Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act,” said Brian Wild, Chief Government Relations Officer, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW). We thank Senators Cantwell, Blackburn, Blunt Rochester, and Shaheen for their leadership in advancing this important legislation. This bipartisan effort marks a critical step toward strengthening U.S. supply chains through enhanced public-private collaboration. The wholesale distribution industry plays a vital role in ensuring supply chain resilience, and this legislation will help safeguard the infrastructure that helps keep our economy moving. NAW looks forward to seeing President Trump sign this bill into law.”
“As the largest domestic manufacturing employer, the makers of America’s food, beverage, household and personal care products applaud passage of bipartisan supply chain legislation championed by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.),” said Tom Madrecki, Vice President, Supply Chain Resiliency, Consumer Brands Association. “Over the last five years in particular, the consumer packaged goods industry has experienced first-hand the need to strengthen America’s supply chains, which are critical to ensuring the availability and affordability of everyday essential products. We strongly endorse this effort to equip the Department of Commerce with the tools needed to protect American manufacturing and the critical supply chains that support millions of good-paying CPG jobs across the country.”
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Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.