Kinzinger sponsors bill to bolster manufacturing in the Western Hemisphere

To complement ongoing efforts in other committees of jurisdiction that are trying to address the ongoing supply chain crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) on Dec. 7 sponsored legislation that would require the U.S. Secretary of State to implement a strategy to reduce America’s reliance on concentrated supply chains for critical goods.

“As the holidays approach, Americans across the country have witnessed firsthand how supply chain disruptions are impacting our way of life,” Rep. Kinzinger said. “From shortages in everyday goods to those on which our critical infrastructure relies, we need to ensure our supply chains are protected.” 

The Allies Strengthening Economies and Manufacturing Act, H.R. 6157, also known as the Allies SEAM Act, would require the Secretary of State to support relocating critical manufacturing from foreign countries of concern to the United States or elsewhere in the Western Hemisphere, according to a bill summary provided by the congressman’s staff.

H.R. 6157 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, on which Rep. Kinzinger serves, and is under review in the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee.

“By incentivizing companies to relocate their manufacturing to the United States and Western Hemisphere, we would bolster national security, prevent future disruptions to our economy, and provide good-paying jobs in the United States,” said Rep. Kinzinger. “This legislation, working in conjunction with my Manufacturing Economy And National Security (MEANS) Act, will place American manufacturing on stronger footing moving forward.”

Rep. Kinzinger in October also sponsored the bipartisan MEANS Act, H.R. 5492, with lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) to establish an Office of Manufacturing Security and Resilience within the U.S. Commerce Department. The House Energy and Commerce Committee is also considering this bill.