Supply chains dominate Secretary Pete’s agenda

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Congress is back this week to continue negotiating infrastructure legislation that continues to take oxygen on Capitol Hill.

Meanwhile, Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the country’s top transport official, is doing the media rounds to brief the country on crises in supply chains.

On NBC’s ‘Meet The Press’ show on October 17, he said, “We are doing everything we can for the short and long term. And there are “x” factors on everything from, you know, the closures of factories and ports related to the pandemic in Asia, to things going on in the chain on the American side.

“Now, of course, the other thing we have to talk about is that it’s not just about supply. It is a question of supply and demand. Every object you see, every container on every ship waiting at anchor in the ports of [Los Angeles] and Long Beach, or anywhere else, is there because an American business or consumer bought it, ”Transportation secretary told Chuck Todd.

On CNN’s State of the Union, Buttigieg shared a similar sentiment: “Our role is to be an honest broker, to bring all the different players together there, to secure commitments and to get solutions that will facilitate things. “

Prior to the Sunday broadcasts, he had appeared on NPR and other media to reassure audiences of the administration’s goals of resolving crises.

This is the first key step towards moving our entire logistics and freight transport supply chain, nationwide, to a 24/7 system,

President Joe Biden October 13

A key proposal that the White House Biden announced recently was the public and private commitment to facilitate the flow of cargo through 24/7 operations at critical ports on the west coast of Los Angeles and Long Beach. As President Joe Biden explained last week, “After weeks of negotiating and working with my team and with major unions, retailers and freight carriers… the Port of Los Angeles announced today that ‘it was going to… start operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. “

“This is the first key step towards moving our entire logistics and freight transport supply chain, nationwide, to a 24/7 system,” said Biden on October 13.

The supply chain-focused proposals included in the president’s Build Back Better program are gaining attention. A funding proposal in what could ultimately be the budget reconciliation package provides for $ 2.5 billion to expand access to ports. It’s unclear when Congress will vote on the Build Back Better bill.

Democrats are engaged in party disputes over the top line of the budget package. West Virginia Senators Joe Manchin and Arizona’s Kyrsten Sinema are campaigning for a budget bill under $ 2 trillion. To get to $ 2 trillion, compared to $ 3.5 trillion, and gain the support of Manchin and society, policymakers may have to reject some climate and energy regulatory proposals. Moderates in the House, such as Rep. Josh Gottheimer (DN.J.), share a similar sentiment as they continue to call for passage of the $ 1 trillion infrastructure measure passed by the Senate, which includes the new Highway Authorization Bill.

We hear that the negotiations are underway, but that they are not moving as quickly as the promoters would like. Therefore, extensions are very likely for the 2015 FAST Act Roads Act, which operates on an extension that expires on October 31. The government’s funding authorization expires on December 3, and without another short-term funding bill in place in early December, the government could consider a partial shutdown. The debt ceiling is also expected to reach on December 3. As we said in “Capitol Agenda” last week, Federal Transportation Watchers say they won’t be surprised to see Congress wait weeks or even days before Christmas to pass the whole agenda. above. Until then, the hysteria over the possibility of Christmas presents not arriving on time is sure to persist.

The coming week (all Eastern hours)

October 20, 10 a.m.: The House Coast Guard and Shipping Subcommittee meets for a hearing titled “Achieving Mission Balance: Positioning the Coast Guard for the Future”. look here.

October 20, 10 a.m.: The Senate Trade Committee is considering the appointment of Meera Joshi as head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. look here.

October 21, 10 a.m.: The House Aviation Subcommittee meets to review the Federal Aviation Administration’s implementation of the Aircraft Certification, Safety and Liability Act.

Freight corridor

Popular activism and Senator Sinema collide.

Legislative Register

The House natural resources committee this month proposed legislation that would require oil and gas operators to alert the Home Office of equipment failures in critical systems. Notification should be provided within 30 days.

The Offshore Accountability Act aims to update industry reporting standards to increase transparency of critical pipeline systems, according to its sponsor, Representative A. Donald McEachin (D-Va.).

“The passage of the Offshore Accountability Act is an important step towards greater transparency and accountability of the offshore oil and gas industry,” he said.

Buzz

The White House team runs a full press to promote the Build Back Better program. Last week, Biden was in Connecticut promoting social infrastructure proposals. Supporters of the plan in Congress are hitting the cable news, calling for infrastructure adoption and Build Back Better bills. The debate over the president’s agenda has reached the Virginia governor’s race. Democratic candidate (and former governor) Terry McAuliffe, caught in a close race with GOP candidate Glenn Youngkin, says any approval or partial of Biden’s plan would resonate with some voters. Election day is November 2.

Favorite video

This time the guy from Priceline went to space.

Favorite Tweet

Another very Washington moment.

NEW: @RepJayapal recount @MajorCBS that she hopes @Sen_JoeManchin and @ SenatorSinema will support the means tests for the components of the #BuildBackBetterAct. “There are simple, not complicated, but simple ways to ensure that the richest people do not benefit.” LOOK: pic.twitter.com/gnSoMMtcjb

– Takeout with Major Garrett (@TakeoutPodcast) October 13, 2021

The last word

I am very disappointed that we were not going with the original $ 3.5 trillion.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) October 12

We post weekly when Congress is in session. Send an email to emulero@ttnews.com with advice. Follow us @eugenemulero and @transporttopics.

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