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On June 10, the Biden-Harris administration announced key findings from the reviews directed under Executive Order 14017 “America’s Supply Chains,” as well as immediate actions the administration will take to strengthen American supply chains to promote economic security, national security and “good-paying, union jobs here at home.”

The report, authored by the White House, assesses supply chain vulnerabilities across four key products: semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging; large capacity batteries, like those for electric vehicles; critical minerals and materials; and pharmaceuticals and advanced pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The recommendations from the reviews also reiterate the administration’s support for restrictive labor standards that exclude non-union employers, including in automotive battery production and manufacturing and mining, where the White House report states:

“Requiring strong labor protections, including prevailing wage requirements, use of Project Labor Agreements and community hire on construction projects, union neutrality policies for employers and a ban on mandatory arbitration agreements, as relevant to the proposed scope of work.”

Another of many recommendations from the report to rebuild our production and innovation capabilities was to use immediate administrative authorities to support an ecosystem of producers and innovators including small and medium enterprises and skilled workers:

Specifically, work with industry and labor to create pathways to quality jobs, with a free and fair choice to join a union, through sector-based community college partnerships, apprenticeships and on-the-job training: The Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration should support sector-based pathways to jobs, for example in the semiconductor industry. We recommend that the Administration use ETA funds to work with industry and labor, community colleges and non-profit partners to support pathways to advanced manufacturing employment through Registered Apprenticeship programs and by supporting other labor-management training programs.”

President Biden signed Executive Order (E.O.) 14017 on Feb. 24, 2021 directing the U.S. government to undertake a comprehensive review of critical U.S. supply chains to identify risks, address vulnerabilities and develop a strategy to promote resilience.

In response to the report, the administration also announced a new "Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force to tackle near-term bottlenecks" in various industries including semiconductors and home building and construction.  

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