Cassidy, Risch, Emmer Demand Biden Administration Evaluate U.S. Supply Chain for Smokeless Gunpowder

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), and Jim Risch (R-ID), U.S. Representative Tom Emmer (R-MN-06), and colleagues introduced the Ammunition Supply Chain Act requiring the Biden administration to submit a report to Congress about the current state of the domestic supply of necessary components for smokeless gun powder.

"Recent events have exposed the vulnerability of supply chains," said Dr. Cassidy. "Having the full scope of America's ammunition supply chain isn't just about protecting our national security; it's also about giving law-abiding gun owners a clear picture."

"This administration creates as many ridiculous hurdles as possible to restrict law-abiding gun owners' access to affordable guns and ammunition," said Senator Risch. "The Ammunition Supply Chain Act forces transparency from the Biden administration about the status of our domestic ammunition supply chain. This is vital to protect our right to bear arms and to ensure our military has the ammunition it needs to protect our country."

"As threats to our nation's security evolve, it is more important than ever to take proactive measures to secure our ammunition supply chain. This is not only about enhancing our military readiness but also supporting American manufacturing and ensuring law-abiding Minnesotans and Americans can exercise their Second Amendment rights," said Representative Emmer.

The Ammunition Supply Chain Security Act would:

• Reiterate Congress' concerns about the domestic supply and production of nitrocellulose; and
• Require the administration to submit a report to Congress on the domestic supply chain for smokeless gunpowder including nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin, and acid production, essential to ammunition manufacturing.

The Ammunition Supply Chain Security Act is supported by The Kinetic Group.

Cassidy, Risch, and Emmer were joined by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Tom Cotton (R-AR), John Kennedy (R-LA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and U.S. Representative Rick Crawford (R-AR-01) in introducing the legislation.

Background

Nitrocellulose is the most common ingredient in modern, smokeless gunpowder. For the last several years, the global supply chain for components of smokeless gunpowder, including nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin, and acid production has been strained, resulting in higher costs and greater difficulty acquiring ammunition. U.S. firearm and ammunition producers rely on the availability of these materials to produce gunpowder. Nitrocellulose is also used in health care and pharmaceutical testing, paint, wood finishes, and more.

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