Industry and Labor Perspectives: A Further Look at North American Supply Chain Challenges
Full House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure
November 17th, 2021 at 10:30 AM ET
Witnesses:
- Mario Cordero
Executive Director of the Port of Long Beach, California
On behalf of the American Association of Port Authorities - Chris Spear
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
American Trucking Associations - Ian Jefferies
President and CEO
Association of American Railroads - Anne Reinke
President and CEO
Transportation Intermediaries Association - David Correll
Lecturer and Research Scientist
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Transportation and Logistics - Greg Regan
President
Transportation Trades Department at the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
On Wednesday, November 17th, at 10:30 AM ET, the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a hearing to understand the hindrances of the supply chain command, as well as what possible solutions could mitigate or prevent current and future hindrances. As stated by Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO), there is no one simple solution to a complex problem with multiple factors that contribute to the cost of moving goods within the Nation’s supply chain. The witnesses of the hearing are essential workers who feel the effects of the supply chain crisis firsthand.
The Covid-19 pandemic led to disruptions of the normal flow of goods in the supply chain networks and consumer consumption fluctuations that have resulted in enormous economic, financial, and environmental costs. Challenges discussed included a decrease in the critical workforce at ports, trucking firms, warehouses, manufacturers, and retailers; and limited availability of equipment, warehouse space, drayage, and truck capacity. Other factors that have led to a supply chain crisis include delays caused by extreme weather events and a blockage of the Suez Canal in early 2021.
All witnesses congratulated the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate for the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which will provide $110 billion for the modernization and upgrading of our roads, bridges, and other infrastructural projects. A “well-maintained, reliable, and efficient infrastructure is crucial to the delivery of our nation’s freight – both international and domestic – and is vital to our country’s economic and social well-being,” Spear stated.
For a recording of the full committee hearing, please visit the Transportation and Infrastructure hearings calendar.