On Monday, President Joe Biden is set to kick off the inaugural meeting of his supply chain resilience council, a step aimed at bolstering the nation’s supply chain infrastructure. This meeting is a platform for announcing 30 strategic actions intended to enhance the accessibility of essential medicines, economic data, and other critical aspects related to the production and transportation of goods.

Lael Brainard, director of the White House National Economic Council and co-chair of the new council, emphasized the administration’s commitment: “We’re determined to keep working to bring down prices for American consumers and ensure the resilience of our supply chains for the future.”

This initiative follows a period of supply chain disruptions that contributed to soaring inflation as the U.S. emerged from the coronavirus pandemic in 2021. Despite a reduction in consumer prices from last year’s highs, inflation continues to pose a significant political challenge for Biden as the 2024 presidential election looms.

Among the key actions, Biden plans to invoke the Defense Production Act, enabling the Health and Human Services Department to invest in domestic manufacturing of critical medicines identified as essential for national security. The department has earmarked $35 million for the production of materials for injectable medicines.

Furthermore, the federal government aims to enhance its monitoring capabilities of supply chains through inter-agency data sharing. The Commerce Department has developed innovative tools for assessing supply chain risks and has collaborated with the Energy Department on renewable energy resource supplies. Shipping companies are starting to leverage new data resources from the Transportation Department to optimize freight logistics.

The council, co-chaired by Brainard and Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, will include members from various spheres of government. This includes heads of Cabinet departments, the U.S. trade representative, the chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, and directors from National Intelligence, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. This diverse representation underscores the comprehensive approach the Biden administration is taking to address and future-proof the nation’s supply chain.