Elmont, NY - Today, Assemblymember Michaelle Solages (D-Elmont) and Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) issued a joint letter to Governor Kathy Hochul calling for the creation of a New York State Supply Chain Task Force.New York State has seen unprecedented shortages of a variety of vital products from cars to baby diapers due to disruptions in the supply chain stemming from the COVID19 Pandemic. 

A NYS Supply Chain Task Force would alleviate these disruptions by creating partnerships with local governments and the White Houses’ newly-announced Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force to create a “first mile to last mile” approach to tackling supply chain issues. The task force would also be able to partner with the New York Department of Labor to address dire worker shortages and recommend investment to specific private sector industries in New York to reduce strain on the supply chain. 

Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages notes the impact this has on her constituency. “The shortages that we are seeing due to supply chain disruptions are putting a strain on the people of New York’s 22nd Assembly District,” stated Assemblymember Michaelle Solages. “While the pandemic caused most of these disruptions, COVID19 has also exacerbated many issues that contribute to supply chain issues such as worker shortages due to a lack of affordable childcare. It is imperative that we are well-positioned to address these issues as they arise. A Supply Chain Task Force will enable the state to maneuver flexibly and mitigate potential impacts disruption may have on our state.”

Assemblymember Billy Jones stated, “Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, global supply chain issues have caused shipping delays, raised prices and exacerbated existing shortages in the commercial driver’s license (CDL) workforce. And while this disruption has hit local small businesses the hardest, it requires statewide action to help correct them. That is why Assemblywoman Solages and I sent a letter urging Gov. Hochul to create a NYS Supply Chain Task Force to tackle these challenges head-on and enact meaningful legislation that benefits both businesses and consumers.”