Rep. Brian Mast (R-Flo.) and other lawmakers introduced legislation to combat supply chain issues “by freeing truckers from burdensome red tape.”
According to a press release from Mast’s office, the Florida congressman and 16 other representatives introduced on Thursday the Supplying America Needs Truckers Aged 18 Act, or SANTA 18 Act, in an effort to eliminate “unnecessary red tape and restrictions to allow more truckers to keep the supply chain flowing.”
Mast said in a statement, “Joe Biden’s supply chain crisis is driving prices up and delivery times down just as we approach the holiday season, and sadly, reindeer aren’t going to magically fix this problem.”
He added, “To make matters worse, there is unnecessary government red tape preventing companies from implementing logical solutions to this problem. This bill would cut that red tape to get more drivers on the road in time for holiday deliveries.”
The press release notes, “While many states allow truckers between the ages of 18 to 20 to transport within the state, any transportation across the state boundaries – or interstate transportation – requires that the trucker is at least 21 years old per federal law.”
It continues, “Picking up goods from a port is interpreted as interstate transportation even if the port is located in the same state as the distribution center or the final location. This precludes 18 to 20-year-olds from transporting cargo coming off of ships at overloaded ports, even if they have a commercial driver’s license and drive semi-trucks elsewhere within their state.”
President Joe Biden announced in October some West Coast ports would be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in response to the supply chain crisis.
Mast’s office argued, “The data showed the operation to be ineffective due to the lack of truckers showing up to collect cargo. By passing the SANTA 18 Act, more truckers will be empowered to keep supplies moving all across the United States in time for Christmas.”
During the annual gathering of G-20 leaders over the weekend, Biden addressed supply chain issues.
“Supply chains are something that most of our citizens never think twice about until something goes wrong. And during this pandemic, we’ve seen delays and backlogs of goods from automobiles to electronics, from shoes to furniture,” Biden said.
He added, “Ending the pandemic is the ultimate key to unlocking the disruptions we’re all contending with. But, we have to take action now, together with our partners in the private sector, to reduce the backlogs that we’re facing.”
The president and other leaders agreed to “foster greater international cooperation on near-term supply-chain disruptions.”
