Imagine a local hardware store that’s been serving our community for generations. This family-owned business relies on a steady supply of tools, construction materials, and farming equipment that come through U.S. ports. This week, we were brought to the brink of a major supply chain disruption that would have catapulted our already fragile economy into chaos, Despite the Biden Administration’s inaction a port strike and the dire economic consequences that would cause those shipments to be delayed, leaving the store’s shelves half-empty. As products dwindle and get more expensive, this store faces higher costs and struggles to meet the needs of its customers. The domino effect doesn’t stop there. A nearby farming family in Warrenton needs to repair a broken tractor ahead of harvest season. But with parts stuck at port, their fields remain untended, causing delays in getting crops to market. As farmers lose income and local consumers pay more for their food, the whole community begins to feel the wake of the supply chain crisis.

Over the past few decades, American companies have offshored manufacturing and services to places like China, drawn by cheaper labor costs, fewer regulations, and the promise of 24/7 operations. While this has allowed consumers to enjoy affordable products—whether it’s your favorite boots, new TV, or even household supplies—all available at the click of a button, it has come at a significant cost to our economic security.

This reliance on foreign goods is like building a house on a shaky foundation. When storms arise, the house becomes vulnerable to collapse, leaving everything inside at risk. Just as a strong foundation is essential for a stable home, a resilient supply chain is crucial for our economy. Without it, we expose ourselves to the dangers of global disruptions that can threaten our local businesses and communities.

I’ll keep it short, but if a port strike happened or this tentative agreement fails through 45,000 workers would cause cargo ships carrying everything from machinery to everyday essentials sit idle at the docks, causing delays in the flow of goods. This leads to shortages, increased prices, and disruptions for businesses that depend on imported goods.

As products are delayed at major U.S. ports—like Baltimore or Houston—our small businesses, farmers, and manufacturers face longer waits, increased costs, and product shortages.

These challenges are compounded by the fact that many American companies have offshored their manufacturing to countries like China, where labor is cheaper, and regulations are almost non-existent. While this might reduce costs for large corporations in the short term, it exposes our local businesses to foreign supply chain disruptions and opens our economy to relying on our adversary.

The solution is straightforward: We must bring production back to American soil. By strengthening domestic manufacturing, we can protect Missouri’s small businesses, farmers, and communities from being vulnerable to foreign supply chain disruptions. Bringing manufacturing back home means better-paying jobs for Missourians and greater economic security for our families, and neighbors. It also reduces our dependence on volatile foreign markets and ensures that essential goods and products stay within our borders.

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