# COVID-19 Supply Chain Relief Act

This bill creates a new government position called a "Supply Chain Czar" to tackle the supply chain problems that got worse during the pandemic. Think of it as appointing one person to be in charge of fixing the bottlenecks that have made goods harder to get and prices higher—things like empty store shelves, shipping delays, and truck driver shortages.

The Supply Chain Czar would work out of the President's office and coordinate efforts across the country to address disruptions. They'd help states figure out how to use leftover COVID-19 relief money to fix supply chain problems in their own areas. The Czar would also oversee regional leaders working on these issues. Essentially, instead of having different government agencies working separately, this creates one central point of coordination to tackle the problem more strategically.

The bill also lets states use remaining COVID relief funds in new ways to address supply chain issues. States could use this money to recruit truck drivers (including special programs for women and military veterans), improve ports and shipping infrastructure, or help businesses hurt by supply chain disruptions. Within 30 days of the bill passing, the Commerce Department would need to issue guidance explaining exactly what states can and cannot do with these funds.

Finally, the bill requires the Commerce Department to write a report within 30 days identifying where supply chains are getting stuck, what's causing the problems, and what investments could help goods move more smoothly. This report would help Congress and the President understand the full scope of the issue and plan better solutions going forward.

COVID–19 Supply Chain Relief Act

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 <ul> <li>coordinate a national response to supply chain disruptions, shortages, and increased prices;</li> <li>serve as a resource for states as they deploy unused COVID-19 relief funds to address supply chain bottlenecks; and</li> <li>appoint, oversee, and coordinate among regional supply chain leaders. </li> </ul> 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: <ul> <li>promoting employment in the trucking and logistics industries,</li> <li>implementing apprenticeship programs to recruit more women and military veterans to become licensed commercial motor vehicle drivers,</li> <li>undertaking port and shipping infrastructure projects, and </li> <li>providing relief from other detrimental economic impacts of supply chain disruptions. </li> </ul> 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.