ARLINGTON, VA – National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) President and CEO Eric R. Byer issued the following statement applauding U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) for raising concerns about the country’s ongoing shipping crisis with the Federal Maritime Commission.

“Sen. Capito understands the severity of the burden that U.S. shippers and consumers are shouldering and we commend her for elevating this crisis with the Federal Maritime Commission. The ongoing congestion in our nation’s ports is severely impacting nearly every facet of the U.S. economy, and threatens to drive shipping rates and prices for consumer goods even higher.

“It is critical that the Federal Maritime Commission acts promptly to address the ongoing, time-consuming, and expensive shipping challenges NACD members and other shippers are facing in importing and exporting products that are essential to the U.S. and global economies. Delaying action any further will cause irreparable harm to the U.S. economy and jeopardize our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic when we can least afford it,” said Byer’s statement.