Biden denies vaccine mandate will hurt supply chains
Biden dismissed concerns from truckers that a vaccine mandate will hurt supply chain recovery
Biden on supply chain: 'The much predicted crisis didn't occur'
President Biden discussed supply chain shortages and how the White House has been tackling the issue.
President Biden said Wednesday that his vaccine mandate will not negatively impact supply chains, despite concerns from the trucking industry.
Fox News White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich asked Biden about this at the end of a meeting the president had with the Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force. She noted that the trucking industry was petitioning the Supreme Court to block the mandate out of fear it will slow down the supply chain recovery, and asked what Biden had to say to this.
"I say no, thank you," the president responded.
President Biden speaks during a meeting with his task force on supply chain issues, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021, in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky / AP Newsroom)
The president announced plans for a vaccine mandate on truckers who cross the northern border, on top of the mandate on large businesses. Republican senators led by Montana's Sen. Steve Daines wrote a letter to Biden earlier this month warning that the move would hinder the transportation of goods across the U.S.-Canada border and exacerbate the ongoing supply chain crisis.
"In March of 2020, the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency classified truck drivers as essential to the continued viability of our nation’s infrastructure because trucking is an indispensable component of North American trade and the linchpin of America’s domestic supply chain," the letter said.
Members of President Biden's task force on supply chain issues listen as he speaks during a meeting, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021, in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky / AP Newsroom)
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"We urge your Administration to reengage our northern neighbor and leading export partner to establish a reciprocal policy for cross-border truck drivers that does not include a vaccine mandate and will not disrupt the North American supply chain."
Fox News' Jacqui Heinrich, Timothy Nerozzi and Tyler Olson contributed to this report.