As ongoing, pandemic related supply chain disruptions impact businesses and consumers, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin is introducing new legislation to help address the issue. The Supply Chain Resiliency Act will alleviate current supply chain bottlenecks and prevent future disruptions by investing in American companies to reduce our reliance on long supply chains and ensure that critical products are made in America.
“Since the beginning of the global pandemic in 2020, supply chain disruptions have impacted businesses, manufacturers, and consumers who are face rising costs for some products,” said Sen. Baldwin. “Our Made in America economy has been neglected, exposing us to shocks that leave us unable to produce or acquire the things we need, putting our health, economy, and security at risk. Supply chain disruptions have caused price spikes for some consumer goods. My legislation can help address these issues in the short term and put us in a stronger position going forward.”
Baldwin’s Supply Chain Resiliency Act creates an Office of Supply Chain Resiliency at the Commerce Department, charged with monitoring, researching, and addressing vulnerable supply chains. The Office will provide loans, loan guarantees, and grants to small and medium manufacturers, to allow them to address supply chain bottlenecks by expanding production. For example, a manufacturer that is unable to meet the increased demand for its products can get a low-interest loan from the Office of Supply Chain Resiliency to expand production.
In order to ensure adequate labor supply, safe working conditions, and labor-management cooperation, the legislation includes strong labor protections as a condition of expansion support. Through committed long-term low-cost financial support, the Office of Supply Chain Resiliency will provide incentives for manufacturers seeking to expand production in the United States and the companies that get their goods to market.
The Supply Chain Resiliency Act is endorsed by the AFL-CIO and the United Steelworkers as well as Wisconsin-based Stoughton Trailers.
“We support Senator Baldwin’s leadership to strengthen America’s vulnerable supply chains by re-shoring and bolstering domestic manufacturing of critical equipment and infrastructure,” said Bob Wahlin, president & CEO of Stoughton Trailers. “Investing in the Made in America economy will create more family sustaining good-paying jobs for American workers and allow us to reduce our dependency on foreign sources of key components and infrastructure, especially from state-backed actors.
“Stoughton Trailers will continue to work with Senator Baldwin’s office to refine this legislation to ensure that it works for all American manufacturers.”