U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez has introduced bipartisan legislation designed to address the shortages of supplies and equipment now hitting U.S. companies and consumers as the U.S. economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.
Menenedez joined U.S. Sen. Martha Blackburn, R-Tenn., on Wednesday in proposing a national database of manufacturers in the country’s supply chain, letting companies know who’s making particular products and who’s not.
“The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep vulnerabilities in our own national supply chains that we are still dealing with as a country and that make us susceptible during moments of crisis,” Menendez said.
“Future pandemics, natural disasters, cyberattacks, raw material shortages, and even trade disputes could cripple our supply chains right when we need to engage them most in order to deliver critical goods to the American public.”
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The bill is sponsored in the House by Rep. Norma Torres, D-Calif., and Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn. It would use the existing manufacturing extension program to connect all 50 states.
The lawmakers also have proposed adding their bill to the defense policy legislation now making its way through Congress. The House version of the National Defense Authorization Act also would allow banks to provide financial services to legal marijuana businesses.
President Joe Biden, meanwhile, said that efforts to speed up port operations have helped increase supplies. He also said truck drivers will be able to drive more hours through February to deliver critical products such as fuel, food and medical supplies.
“We’re heading into a holiday season on very strong shape,” Biden said Wednesday. “And it’s not because of luck. We averted potential crisis by figuring out what needed to get fixed and then we brought people together to do the hard work of fixing it.”
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Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him at @JDSalant.
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