House committee advances supply chain vulnerability legislation

U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, are commending committee advancement of their legislation, the Domains Critical to Homeland Security Act.

The legislation is designed to address supply chain vulnerabilities threatening Homeland security. Specifically, the bill would direct the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct research and development regarding how supply chain vulnerabilities threaten homeland security.

“I’m pleased the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee passed this important legislation because between shortages of medical supplies and semiconductors, the past year, and a half has exposed how offshoring of our manufacturing base has weakened our homeland security,” Portman said. “This bipartisan legislation puts the best and brightest minds at DHS on the job to identify where we have vulnerabilities in our supply chains and develop solutions to strengthen American manufacturing and re-shore jobs in critical sectors.”

Peters said the nation’s overreliance on foreign manufacturers for critical supplies is a grave national security and economic risk for Americans.

“I will continue working to move this important legislation forward so we can help federal agencies and Congress support increased domestic production of critical supplies, create good-paying American jobs, and protect our national security,” he said.