Supply Chain Remains a Focus of Congress

Most Americans learned about the vulnerabilities of supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic when cleaning supplies and toilet paper were suddenly nonexistent. It made what is normally a complex issue - well outside the public eye - real to just about everyone. These vulnerabilities, however, are not just a product of the pandemic. They are impacted by everything from consumer demand and war to natural disasters and supplier delays.

The White House and Congress have advanced a number of initiatives to help make supply chains more resilient. There is a Congressional Supply Chain Caucus with the same mission. Many legislative proposals have been introduced, and committees are continuing to focus on vulnerabilities within supply chains - including the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations that is holding a hearing this week on supply chain efforts. There is no shortage of attention to supply chain resiliency, and that focus is not expected to go away.

With the ongoing war in Ukraine, questions around the strength of the economy, trade policy uncertainty, and the growing U.S. divide with China, supply chain resiliency will continue to be a core issue within the policy ecosystem - especially in sectors that impact the federal government, such as national security and healthcare. Supply chain security will also remain a key narrative for those who are encouraging onshoring and increased domestic manufacturing.

As the 118th Congress moves forward with historic partisanship and an election on the horizon, issues surrounding the supply chain will be a bipartisan priority in DC with a significant footprint across many congressional committees and adjacent policy sectors. For those with an interest in this space, now is the time to engage.