Voters Support Investments to Boost Domestic Supply Chains
By Danielle Deiseroth, Senior Climate Strategist, Data for Progress
If you’re like me, you’re getting about a dozen emails a day from different companies warning you that the already-crunched holiday shopping timeline is even shorter this year due to “ongoing supply chain issues.” However, these issues are impacting far more than just holiday shopping procrastinators and cream cheese aficionados — from medical devices to semiconductors, the disruption of supply chains for critical technologies is threatening nearly every sector of our economy. Without significant policy interventions, many experts warn that supply chain disruptions could continue well into 2022.
Recognizing the dire impacts of supply chain issues, the Biden Administration has taken several actions, including issuing an executive order to strengthen the resilience of domestic supply chains for critical minerals and technologies, forming a supply chain disruptions task force, and convening business and civic leaders to expand operations of the Port of Los Angeles to 24 hours a day. Though several frontline Democrats recently wrote a letter to House leadership sounding the alarm on the critical importance of addressing supply chains, Congress has yet to pass a bill to send to President Biden’s desk.
However, the U.S. Innovation Competition Act (USICA) — which passed the Senate in June 2021 with 68 votes — can help address both our domestic supply chain issues as well as our abysmal funding levels for scientific research and development. In a November 2021 national survey, Data for Progress sought to better understand voters’ perceptions of ongoing supply chain issues and inflation. We find that supply chain issues are top-of-mind for nearly all voters, and federal investments to boost domestic supply chains enjoy bipartisan support.
First, we asked voters whether they recently had trouble purchasing a good because it was not available. Over half of voters (59 percent) say they have recently experienced this issue, demonstrating the widespread impacts of supply chain issues.
Next, we asked voters what they were unable to purchase. An analysis by Data for Progress Analyst Kirby Phares found that voters were mostly unable to purchase everyday items such as food, groceries, and pet supplies. Though less frequently cited, voters also reported being unable to purchase electronics, appliances, furniture, and cleaning supplies. The variety of the dataset was striking, illuminating that no industry is immune to supply chain shortages and consumers are bearing the brunt of these challenges.
Given the link between supply chain shortages and inflation, we also asked voters what they think is causing cost increases. A plurality of all voters (41 percent) think that pandemic-induced labor shortages and supply chain disruptions are causing inflation. While a majority of Democrats (58 percent) and a plurality of Independents (41 percent) blame the pandemic, over half of Republicans (58 percent) think President Biden and lawmakers in Congress are to blame. This stark divide across party lines highlights the political polarization around inflation.
With supply chain shortages and rising costs at the top of many voters’ minds, a plurality (42 percent) agrees that government investments to boost domestic supply chains will help the economy and reduce the impacts of inflation. A majority of Democrats (62 percent) and a plurality of Independents (40 percent) agree that investments in domestic supply chains will positively impact the economy, while only small minorities (9 percent and 19 percent, respectively) think these investments would negatively impact the economy.
Finally, we gave voters a brief description of the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) and asked whether they support or oppose the bill. By a +49-point margin, voters say they support the proposal. There is a bipartisan consensus: Over three-quarters of Democrats (78 percent), over two-thirds of Independents (69 percent), and a majority of Republicans (59 percent) support the bill.
It is clear that voters across party lines widely support ambitious investments to boost U.S. supply chains, including the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act. However, while the proposal would make much-needed investments in domestic manufacturing for critical technologies like semiconductors, it is far from a perfect bill. As Data for Progress Senior Fellow Jake Higdon highlighted, House lawmakers can — and should — fight for more progressive provisions to be included in the bill, such as robust labor and wage standards. These labor and wage requirements are also politically savvy, as they enjoy overwhelming bipartisan support. As we prepare to enter our third pandemic year, House lawmakers should not squander this opportunity to strengthen America’s footing as a 21st-century leader in innovation and critical technologies for decades to come.
Danielle Deiseroth (@danielledeis) is the Senior Climate Strategist at Data for Progress.
Survey Methodology:
From November 17 to 21, 2021, Data for Progress conducted a survey of 1,253 likely voters nationally using web panel respondents. The sample was weighted to be representative of likely voters by age, gender, education, race, and voting history.