Staff Reports
In a victory for American businesses, the House has approved a resolution that aims to reverse a Biden administration rule exempting electric vehicle chargers from certain Buy America requirements. The resolution received a bipartisan vote of 209-198, with Democratic Representatives Jared Golden and Donald Davis joining Republicans in support. On the other side, Republican Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick and Tom McClintock voted against the resolution, aligning with the Democrats.
The Senate had previously passed a similar resolution in November, with Democratic Senators Sherrod Brown, Joe Manchin, and Jon Tester crossing party lines to join Republicans in voting in favor. Independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema, who was elected as a Democrat, also supported the resolution. However, the White House has pledged to veto the resolution, according to Politico.
The House took another common-sense step for America by passing my resolution, essentially blocking Biden's rule allowing American taxpayer dollars to go to Chinese EV chargers.https://t.co/cRKcRtd18u pic.twitter.com/J5rSHrHJ2O
— Senator Marco Rubio (@SenMarcoRubio) January 11, 2024
The waiver in question is related to the Federal Highway Administration’s exemption from Buy America rules for electric vehicle chargers funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. While the Biden administration argued that this waiver was necessary to expedite charger installation and boost electric vehicle sales, opponents of the exemption contend that it undermines domestic investments and empowers foreign nations.
Representative Elise Stefanik of New York, a Republican, criticized the Biden administration, saying that the waiver was a gift to China and that it prioritized foreign adversaries over American businesses and manufacturers. She cited the Buy America provision as a means of supporting domestic businesses, which she claims the current administration is not interested in.
Despite the bipartisan support for the resolution, overriding a presidential veto would require a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress, a threshold the resolution is not likely to meet. Nonetheless, the resolution serves as a noteworthy condemnation of the Biden administration’s exemption and its potential impact on American businesses.
It is worth noting that the article also includes a note from The Western Journal’s Deputy Managing Editor, who emphasizes the significance of the 2024 election and encourages readers to support their journalism through membership.
Source: The Western Journal
