Lafayette Reporter

WASHINGTON – Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) have introduced the Ammunition Supply Chain Act, requiring the Biden administration to assess the state of the domestic supply of chemical ingredients used in smokeless gunpowder.

"The U.S. military depends on a reliable gunpowder supply chain to keep our country safe. The Ammunition Supply Chain Act would ensure that the Biden administration evaluates the threats to our gunpowder supply chain and is honest with Congress about them," said Senator Kennedy.

Senator Risch emphasized the importance of transparency from the administration regarding the domestic ammunition supply chain, stating, "This administration creates as many ridiculous hurdles as possible to restrict law-abiding gun owners' access to affordable guns and ammunition. The Ammunition Supply Chain Act forces transparency from the Biden administration about the status of our domestic ammunition supply chain. This is vital to protect our right to bear arms and to ensure our military has the ammunition it needs to protect our country."

The bill, supported by several other senators and Representative Tom Emmer, aims to address recent strains in the global supply chain of gunpowder components, particularly nitrocellulose. The U.S. and its allies have faced threats to the nitrocellulose supply chain in recent years, partly due to the partnership between the Russian and Chinese governments.

Nitrocellulose is crucial not only for the military but also for domestic firearms and ammunition production. Additionally, it has various other industrial applications, such as in healthcare, paint, and wood finishes.

The full text of the Ammunition Supply Chain Act is available for review.

This legislation underscores the importance of safeguarding the domestic supply chain of gunpowder components to ensure national security and the availability of essential materials for various industries.