SE North Carolina News

WASHINGTON, DC - On May 24, with the support of Congressman David Rouzer (NC-07), the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure advanced seventeen bills to strengthen the nation’s supply chain and improve the movement of goods across the country.

Additionally, the Committee passed an amendment authored by Congressman David Rouzer to ensure the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has a comprehensive understanding of the risk presented by electric vehicles (EVs) before awarding federal resources to projects investing in them.  Congressman Rouzer’s amendment was included and passed in Committee by way of H.R. 3365, the Supply Chain Improvement Act. 

"On may 24's policy solutions address a wide range of factors contributing to supply chain disruptions," said Rep. Rouzer.  "Combined, these proposals will help lower costs and improve the movement of goods for all American consumers and businesses.  I also thank my colleagues for supporting my commonsense amendment to ensure the federal government and the American people understand the adverse impacts Electric Vehicles pose before administering taxpayer dollars through federal grants to projects investing in EVs for supply chain purposes."

Background: 

Specifically, Congressman Rouzer’s amendment requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on adverse effects of Electric Vehicles on our nation’s infrastructure, fire safety issues, and grid security among others.  Upon official findings of the study, the measure requires Congress to enact law allowing the Department of Transportation to include projects on Electric Vehicles to be prioritized for supply chain purposes when awarding Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA), Mega, and Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grants.

Since founding the bipartisan Congressional Supply Chain Caucus before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congressman Rouzer has been working to advance policies accelerating supply chain performance to increase affordability and availability of products.

In April, Congressman Rouzer hosted a Supply Chain Caucus roundtable with key industry stakeholders to discuss the current state of the supply chain and ways policymakers can keep our farmers, businesses, families, and economy moving.

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held multiple hearings on supply chain challenges this Congress, following up on supply chain work in the previous Congress.  Click here for more information from on may 24's markup, including legislation and amendments approved.

Original source can be found here.