Commerce Committee Republicans request closed hearing with administration on freight issues

Republican members of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee requested a closed briefing with Biden administration officials to discuss transportation supply chain issues and the nation’s “unprecedented levels of freight congestion.”

“This committee would benefit from the opportunity to learn how your administration is addressing the ongoing crisis and discuss potential solutions,” the senators wrote in a Dec. 3 letter sent to President Joe Biden.

The committee members requested that officials from the administration, including members of the Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, attend the closed hearing.

“We recognize that implementation of the bipartisan infrastructure bill will provide long-term investments in our nation’s roads, bridges, ports, railroads, and other physical infrastructure, as well as workforce programs to help address the truck driver shortage,” they wrote. “Nevertheless, we are interested in discussing the actions the administration is taking in the short-term to address supply chain congestion.”

The senators noted that “there are steps that can be taken within both the government and private sector to support the movement of goods in the near term.” 

Among the members who signed the letter are U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Todd Young (R-IN).

In November, Sens. Wicker, Capito, Moran, Young and Blackburn introduced the Facilitating Relief for Efficient Intermodal Gateways to Handle Transportation (FREIGHT) Act, S. 3262. If enacted, S. 3262 would improve the efficient movement of freight at ports in the United States, according to the text of the bill.