Senate Passes Hassan-Backed Bill to Strengthen Supply Chains

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate passed bipartisan legislation that Senator Hassan cosponsored to expand a trusted shipping program, expediting commerce at ports of entry and strengthening supply chains. The CTPAT Pilot Program Act was introduced by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ).

“Supply chain shortages and rising prices are hurting Granite State small businesses and families,” said Senator Hassan. “We must address these issues in order to help everyday Americans and stabilize our economy. This bill would take straightforward steps to address commercial bottlenecks, and I urge the House of Representatives to swiftly pass this bill.”

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 passed by the Senate this week, 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. She was part of the original group of bipartisan Senators to introduce the American Innovation and Jobs Act, which would strengthen and expand American R&D, help boost domestic manufacturing, and help U.S. businesses outcompete foreign manufacturers, and she is now working with her colleagues on finding agreement on a comprehensive package to get signed into law. Senator Hassan was also one of the 22 original legislators who helped negotiate the bipartisan infrastructure package into law last year, securing investments for the country’s highways and ports that will help ease supply chain bottlenecks and strengthen the transportation of goods.

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