U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

08/04/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/04/2021 10:49

Portman, Peters Applaud Committee Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Direct DHS to Research Supply Chain Vulnerabilities That Threaten National Security

Portman, Peters Applaud Committee Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Direct DHS to Research Supply Chain Vulnerabilities That Threaten National Security

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

WASHINGTON, DC -U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, applauded the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for passing their bipartisan Domains Critical to Homeland Security Actto direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct research and development into the ways that supply chain vulnerabilities threaten our homeland security. Congressmen John Katko (R-NY) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS) have introduced this legislation in the House of Representatives.

'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,' said Senator Portman. '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 and I urge my colleagues to join in supporting this much needed legislation.'

'As we saw recently with the shortage of semiconductor chips that hurt autoworkers and manufacturers across Michigan and the shortage of critical medical supplies during the pandemic, our nation's overreliance on foreign manufacturers for critical supplies is a grave national security and economic risk for the American people,' said Senator Peters. '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.'

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