Second District Representative Jackie Walorski is urging leaders of the Biden Administration’s Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force to resolve the supply chain bottlenecks at the nation’s ports.

In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Walorski outlined  obstacles that Indiana industries are facing due to ongoing pandemic-era supply chain disruptions and workforce shortages.

In particular, she says Hoosier businesses are increasingly impacted by the container shortage and subsequent surge pricing.

She says if it’s not corrected fast, the alarming trend could have major economic ramifications in Indiana and across the country.

Below is more information about the letter Walorski has issued:

U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, today urged leaders of the Biden Administration’s Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force to prioritize commonsense solutions to resolve supply chain bottlenecks and strengthen the workforce of this key industry.

In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Congresswoman Walorski outlined burdensome obstacles that Indiana industries are facing due to ongoing pandemic-era supply chain disruptions and workforce shortages.

In particular, Hoosier businesses are increasingly impacted by the container shortage and subsequent surge pricing. If not corrected, this alarming trend could have major economic ramifications in Indiana and across the country.

“The manufacturers and small businesses in my district are resilient and they have demonstrated a strong record of adapting to evolving business conditions. Yet, these economic powerhouses are becoming increasingly exasperated with the devastating supply chain and labor challenges that have persisted far into the COVID-19 pandemic,” wrote Congresswoman Walorski. “…It is vital that the Task Force prioritizes commonsense, bipartisan solutions to secure America’s supply chains and restore the workforce.”

In her letter, Congresswoman Walorski also encouraged the task force to optimize workforce training and safety net programs that help Americans find and keep family-sustaining jobs, including in these key industries. As the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Worker & Family Subcommittee, she is leading solutions to equip Americans to succeed in the workforce and uplift families from poverty to prosperity.

The full text of the letter is below:

October 8, 2021

Dear Secretary Raimondo, Secretary Vilsack, and Secretary Buttigieg,

I write to you all as the co-chairs of President Biden’s Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force regarding the ongoing supply chain and labor issues that continue to impact Indiana’s Second Congressional District, one of the largest manufacturing centers in the country. The manufacturers and small businesses in my district are resilient and they have demonstrated a strong record of adapting to evolving business conditions. Yet, these economic powerhouses are becoming increasingly exasperated with the devastating supply chain and labor challenges that have persisted far into the COVID-19 pandemic.

The continuing challenges within the U.S. supply chain and labor market show no indication of easing. This open-ended crisis is jeopardizing many of the economic gains achieved during the last administration. I want my district and our country to build on these gains, and it is vital that the Task Force prioritizes commonsense, bipartisan solutions to secure America’s supply chains and restore the workforce. In order to address the supply chain backlog, the Task Force should consider providing limited regulatory relief that could help certain transportation sectors to move products more efficiently and unjam disruptive bottlenecks at ports, warehouses, and railroad terminals. 

I understand that labor shortages within these important industries have severely limited the capacity to transport products to their destinations. Now more than ever, it is critical to utilize our nation’s workforce training and safety net programs to help individuals find and keep good-paying jobs, including in the transportation sector. We cannot keep an entire generation of American workers relegated to the sidelines. By providing job training and equipping Americans for success, this commonsense reform would help move people from welfare to prosperity, reduce the labor shortage, and resolve the supply chain bottleneck.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the current economic situation in Indiana’s Second Congressional District with the Task Force and discuss any additional ideas that I think could help the administration solve these problems.