Senate Committee Advances Hassan-Backed Bill to Strengthen Supply Chains

WASHINGTON – The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced bipartisan legislation that Senator Hassan cosponsored to strengthen supply chains by expanding a trusted shipping program that will help expedite commerce at ports of entry. The CTPAT Pilot Program Act was introduced by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ).

“Granite Staters and our small businesses are being squeezed because of supply-chain bottlenecks, and we must mitigate these supply chain challenges in any way that we can,” Senator Hassan said. “This bipartisan legislation is one part of our efforts to help relieve the pressure on our supply chains and get our economy moving. I am glad this bill moved out of Committee and I will keep working with my colleagues to strengthen our supply chains.”

C-TPAT was created as a part of the SAFE Port Act of 2006 to support secure cross-border trade through a fast-track, customs clearance process for trusted merchants who voluntarily submit themselves to enhanced security screening measures. The legislation, which Senator Hassan cosponsored, would create a pilot program that would allow a small group of third-party logistic providers (3PLs) to become C-TPAT certified. The companies would work with Customs and Border Protection to become C-TPAT certified by implementing minimum security requirements and sharing supply chain data, which would help expedite the flow of goods into the United States. 

Senator Hassan is working to strengthen supply chains so that Americans can thrive in today’s 21st century economy. Earlier this year, the Senate passed the United States Innovation and Competition Act, to help position the United States to retain and build its competitive edge against China. The bill contained a Hassan-led amendment to strengthen efforts to investigate unfair trade practices that systemically impact critical domestic supply chains and U.S. workers. The bill also included $50 billion to support legislation that Senator Hassan and colleagues previously passed into law to stimulate advanced semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S. In April, Senator Hassan joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in urging the Biden administration to support fully funding this law.

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