Rep. Angie Craig Pushes Biden Administration to Restore Global Supply Chains Amid Houthi Attacks

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Angie Craig is leading a bipartisan effort to push the Biden Administration to step up efforts to protect global supply chains in the Red Sea amidst ongoing Houthi attacks.

Approximately 20% of all container shipping passes through the Red Sea and Suez Canal – an area being impacted heavily by Houthi attacks. Delays in this region have the potential to disrupt global shipping routes and threaten supply chains. 

Rep. Craig, along with her Supply Chain caucus co-chairs, Reps. David Rouzer (R-NC), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Colin Allred (D-TX), wrote to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, State Department Secretary Antony Blinken and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to urge continued efforts and oversight to secure the Red Sea shipping lanes, restore the safe passage of trade and protect human life in the region.

The Members wrote, "The world has witnessed how detrimental disruptions to the global shipping market can be on supply chains. The COVID pandemic bottlenecks resulted in record shipping container backlogs and wait times at ports. Further, repeat blockages of the Suez Canal showed how vital the Red Sea passage is for international trade and functioning supply chains."

The Members further emphasized, "In recent weeks, attacks by Houthi rebels on commercial ships have resulted in major ocean carriers diverting routes through the Red Sea and instead sailing around the Cape of Good Hope. These attacks, conducted by pirates and supported by the Iranian powerhouse, are out of revenge for Western support for Israel. We cannot allow these bad actors to punish our nation and cripple our supply chain without swift recourse."

Full text of the letter can be found here.

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