US Senate

Viewpoint: A closer look at proposed U.S. competitiveness packages

As of March 28, both chambers of Congress have passed jobs and competitiveness bills that invest in supply chains to solidify American manufacturing and technological independence. Next, 26 senators and 81 house members, with a 58% Democrat majority, will convene a conference committee to reconcile differences between the house and senate versions, each with well over 2,000 pages.

One key similarity is that both versions appropriate $50.2 billion for the CHIPS for America Fund, to finance a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/viewpoint-a-closer-look-at-proposed-us-competitiveness-packages

Ocean carriers respond to Senate Markup of Ocean Shipping Reform Act

Washington, March 22, 2022 – The American people are looking for solutions to supply chain congestion resulting from the impacts of COVID-19. Unfortunately, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022, S.3580, which was marked up today by the Senate Commerce Committee, addresses none of the root causes of the U.S. landside congestion. 

Americans continue to import goods at record levels—so much so that the U.S. ports and landside logistics workforce is unable to process all the cargo. Ocean carriers...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2022/03/22/ocean-carriers-respond-to-senate-markup-of-ocean-shipping-reform-act/

Senate bill would make gig workers permanently eligible for unemployment

A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate last week would provide up to $250 in weekly unemployment benefits to gig workers.

Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, and Michael Bennet, D-Colorado, introduced the Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act. The 106-page bill seeks to overhaul current unemployment insurance benefits, allowing them to fluctuate in amount and length during times of high employment, among other changes. It would also codify jobless benefits to workers who quit for certain reasons, such...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/senate-bill-would-make-gig-workers-permanently-eligible-for-unemployment