Memorable Moments: Fixing the Supply Chain Crisis

As I reflect on my time in Congress, I’m reminded of the accomplishments and moments that have made these last eight years so meaningful. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be highlighting some of the work I’m most proud of from my time serving South Dakota and the people who make our state such a special place.

In 2021, dozens of cargo ships were stranded outside American ports due to COVID-19 shutdowns. On top of the already difficult economic environment, China had been discriminating against American manufacturing and agriculture products, causing many cargo ships to leave America without taking any of our goods. China’s malpractice and cargo issues off the coast of California had real impacts in our state—Valley Queen Cheese had two million pounds of South Dakota lactose waiting for an empty container ship to become available to export their product and Strider Bikes struggled with port delays and equipment access issues. Nationwide, tens of billions of dollars were lost in ag exports in just six months. 

This was a big problem for those who work in South Dakota’s manufacturing and agriculture economy, so I got to work on drafting the first major update to maritime shipping laws in more than 30 years. My bill, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, was signed into law in 2022, which decreased the average shipping rate by 60% and significantly drove down shipping costs. I’m grateful for the real, tangible impact the Ocean Shipping Reform Act had on the global economy and American businesses. 

Working on this legislation opened my eyes to the countless other ways China seeks to undermine America. For the last four years, I’ve had the honor of serving on the House Select Committee on China, where I’ve learned more about the Chinese Communist Party’s threat to our national security. Some of my work on the Select Committee focused on stopping China from collecting Americans’ deeply personal data from TikTok, buying American farmland, and illegally selling dangerous vapes.

Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve worked to ensure America remains competitive on the global stage and has proper safeguards in place when it comes to China. I focused on keeping America and South Dakota first—protecting our interests and standing up for the people who keep our economy moving. Even South Dakota farmers, ranchers, and small businesses depend on fair access to global markets. Protecting American interests starts with recognizing the challenges we face and taking meaningful action to address them.