A group of fifteen Republican governors has pledged to work to solve the supply chain crisis that has originated under President Biden’s economic policies, according to Fox News.
The group, led by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R), shared a letter exclusively with Fox News in which they said they would “take action to address workforce shortages and prevent bottlenecks, logjams, and other transportation issues.”
The governors stated that “rather than unleashing the economy, President Biden dramatically increased regulations and rulemaking authority that prevent private sector growth.”
“With 7.4 million people unemployed and 10.4 million job openings, we have a shortage of 80,000 truck drivers, an all-time high for the trucking industry,” the letter explained. “With more paychecks at risk, American families are forced to pay more for food, gas, and everyday goods as inflation surges to a 30-year high under President Biden’s watch.”
In response, the governors “commit to using our authority were allowable to modify weight, size, or load restrictions to allow more cargo to move more efficiently; adjust hours of service constraints to provide truck drivers more time and flexibility; deregulate education and occupational licensure barriers to get more commercial truck drivers on the road.”
They additionally will “convene state agencies in transportation, commerce, workforce, and other related fields to coordinate with private industry, local governments, and neighboring states where appropriate to ensure greater efficiency, connectivity, and data sharing among shippers and receivers at ports, distribution points, storage facilities, and other intrastate corridors for the expedited loading, unloading, and transport of freight.”
Governors of coastal states will “support our ports to operate at full capacity, increase tonnage capacity, and accept more Panamax ships waiting off the west coast.”
In addition to Gov. Bill Lee (R-TN), the governors signing the letter are Gov. Ron DeSantis (FL), Gov. Greg Abbott (TX), Gov. Doug Ducey (AZ), Gov. Mike DeWine (OH), Gov. Greg Gianforte (MT), Gov. Larry Hogan (MD), Gov. Brian Kemp (GA), Gov. Brad Little (ID), Gov. Henry McMaster (SC), Gov. Mike Parson (MO), Gov. Kim Reynolds (IA), Gov. Pete Ricketts (NE), Gov. Kevin Stitt (OK), and Gov. Doug Burgum (ND).
