COVID–19 Supply Chain Relief Act

To establish a Supply Chain Czar, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the COVID–19 Supply Chain Relief Act 2. Supply Chain Czar (a) Establishment There is established in the Executive Office of the President an Office of Supply Chain Policy, which shall do the following: (1) Coordinate a national response to supply chain disruptions, shortages, and increased prices. (2) Serve as a resource for States as States deploy unused COVID–19 relief funds to address supply chain bottlenecks in their States. (3) Appoint, oversee, and coordinate among regional supply chain leaders. (b) Appointment There shall be at the head of the Office a Supply Chain Czar, appointed by the President, who shall serve at the pleasure of the President. 3. State use of COVID–19 relief funds for supply chain disruptions (a) In general The unobligated balances of amounts appropriated or otherwise made available under title VI of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 801 et seq. (1) Promoting employment in the trucking and logistics industries. (2) Implementing apprenticeship programs to recruit more women and military veterans to become licensed commercial motor vehicle drivers. (3) Undertaking port and shipping infrastructure projects. (4) Providing relief from other detrimental economic impacts of supply chain disruptions. (b) Authority To issue guidance Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall issue such guidance as may be necessary to implement this section including, as needed, to define the scope of the allowable activities listed in subsection (a). 4. Departments of Commerce and Transportation report Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall publish and submit to Congress a report on the following, related to supply chains in the United States: (1) Points of congestion or blockages. (2) Underlying causes of supply chain disruptions, shortages, and delays. (3) Other supply chain shortcomings which, with public or private investment, could be remedied to result in more efficient movement of goods into and within the United States.

Summary: COVID-19 Supply Chain Relief Act This bill establishes in the Executive Office of the President an Office of Supply Chain Policy, headed by a Supply Chain Czar appointed by the President. Such office shall coordinate a national response to supply chain disruptions, shortages, and increased prices; serve as a resource for states as they deploy unused COVID-19 relief funds to address supply chain bottlenecks; and appoint, oversee, and coordinate among regional supply chain leaders. Unobligated COVID-19 relief funds may be made available to states, territories, or tribal governments to help address supply chain disruptions and labor shortages by undertaking one or more of the following: promoting employment in the trucking and logistics industries, implementing apprenticeship programs to recruit more women and military veterans to become licensed commercial motor vehicle drivers, undertaking port and shipping infrastructure projects, and providing relief from other detrimental economic impacts of supply chain disruptions. The Department of Commerce must issue guidance, as needed, to define the scope of the allowable activities listed above. Further, Commerce shall publish and submit to Congress a report on (1) supply chain points of congestion or blockages; (2) underlying causes of supply chain disruptions, shortages, and delays; and (3) other supply chain shortcomings which could be remedied with public or private investment.