Senate Panel Advances Supply Chain Resiliency Bill

"[This bill] will strengthen American manufacturing jobs, keep our store shelves stocked and lower costs for American families," Cantwell said. (Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press)

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WASHINGTON — The Senate committee on freight policy recently advanced legislation designed to enhance supply chain connectivity around the country.

The Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act, reintroduced by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), gained bipartisan approval from the Commerce Committee on Feb. 5. The bill, which awaits a vote on the floor of the Senate, would establish a resiliency program at the Commerce Department tasked with monitoring and tracking critical industries and emerging technologies.

“From our aerospace manufacturers to our growers, Washington state relies on robust supply chains to produce, grow and ship our products to the world,” said Cantwell, the panel’s ranking member. “One supply chain shock can disrupt the entire system, driving shortages and raising costs. Our legislation will get the government, businesses and manufacturers working together to identify gaps and build capacity to prevent supply chain disruptions before they happen. It will strengthen American manufacturing jobs, keep our store shelves stocked and lower costs for American families.”

“Strengthening supply chains is essential to ensuring that groceries, fuel, household products and every other consumer product is accessible and affordable,” added Blackburn, a senior member of the committee. “To achieve a strong, resilient supply chain, we must have a coordinated, national strategy that decreases dependence on our adversaries, like Communist China, and leverages American ingenuity. By establishing a supply chain resiliency program at the Department of Commerce, the U.S. government can better coordinate with private sector partners, identify risks and increase our competitiveness.”

Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act of 2025

Specifically, the legislation would seek to identify areas of potential growth for the manufacturing sector in order to reduce costs for consumers. It would establish a Supply Chain Resilience Working Group tasked with evaluating best practices within the freight industry to help avert connectivity disruptions. The group’s studies and recommendations will be required to be presented to Congress for review.

Per background information about the bill, the sponsors explained: “Geopolitical conflicts, natural disasters and the pandemic have highlighted the fragility of supply chains. These events have already caused significant delays and shortages, impacting everything from critical medical supplies and driving up the costs of consumer goods. The U.S. is heavily reliant on single countries for critical supply chain segments, including manufacturing components, critical minerals, and active pharmaceutical ingredients.”

“At a time when families and businesses are feeling the high costs of inflation and goods, we urgently need a national strategy to fix our broken supply chains and lower costs. This legislation would do just that while helping us create good-paying jobs, strengthen our economy, make our country more competitive and enhance our national security,” said Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a co-lead sponsor and new member of the committee. Last year, the two senators and then-Rep. Blunt Rochester led the passage of a similar supply chain legislative package aimed at reinforcing Biden-era freight programs.

Several leading stakeholders endorsed this Senate bill. “While our industry has made great progress to improve our resiliency since the pandemic, the Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act will task the Department of Commerce to map, monitor and model supply chain [vulnerability] to help avoid costly disruptions by providing an additional layer of oversight for the larger economy,” said Wes Smith, president and CEO of the National Association of Electrical Distributors, in a statement the lawmakers provided.

Jason Oxman, president and CEO of the Information Technology Industry Council, emphasized: “Resilient global supply chains are the cornerstone of American innovation leadership, and the global tech industry appreciates the dedicated work of U.S. Sens. Cantwell, Blackburn, and Blunt Rochester to bolster U.S. competitiveness.”