The House of Representatives voted 209-198 on Wednesday to repeal a waiver granted by the Biden administration regarding electric vehicles (EVs).
“Buy America” Exemption
This waiver by President Joe Biden’s administration allowed electric vehicle (EV) chargers an exemption from the “Buy America” policy even if they were not made from U.S.-sourced steel and iron.
Democrats Align with Republicans
The voting pattern showcased an interesting bipartisan mix with two Democrats, Jared Golden of Maine and Donald Davis of North Carolina, aligning with the Republicans.
Republicans Join Democrats
Conversely, Republican Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Tom McClintock of California sided with the Democrats.
Favoring Foreign Industries
The waiver’s opponents contend it favors foreign industries by using non-U.S. materials for federally funded projects.
Biden’s pro-Communist Rule
Republican New York Representative Chair Elise Stefanik, in a statement, said, “I voted to overturn Joe Biden’s pro-Communist China rule that would undermine American businesses that have made significant investments into EV manufacturing.”
Empowering American Adversaries
“Biden’s waiver of the Buy America requirements empower our foreign adversaries like Communist China by pouring hard-earned American taxpayer dollars into foreign markets,” Stefanik added.
Senate Rejects Biden’s Waiver
In November last year, the Senate also voted to reject the Biden administration’s waiver. Democratic Senators Sherrod Brown, Joe Manchin, Jon Tester, and independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema joined Republicans in opposing the regulation.
White House Concerns on Republican Bill
The White House argued that the Republican bill could eliminate the domestic manufacturing mandate for government-funded electric vehicle (EV) chargers, posing a potential threat to domestic manufacturing and American job prospects.
A Likely Veto
The resolution will now head to Biden’s desk; however, in November, the White House hinted at a likely veto against the Republican bill.
Undermining EV Charger Goals
The administration emphasized that revoking the waiver would undermine the manufacturing goals for EV chargers and pointed to an existing Reagan-era waiver that already excludes most manufactured products from the “Buy America” criteria.
Repeal the Wavier
Republicans have countered by suggesting the repeal of the 1983 waiver to avoid reliance on foreign materials.
Supporting U.S. Industries
They argue that adhering to the “Buy America” policy is crucial for bolstering U.S. industries, including EV charger production.
Waiver for EV Chargers
The controversial waiver, introduced by the Biden administration last year, aimed to relax the “Buy America” rules, specifically for certain EV chargers.
Deviation from Standard Policy
Under the standard policy, the Federal Highway Administration mandates that iron and steel for infrastructure projects be domestically produced. Still, the waiver allowed for some leeway in the case of EV chargers as long as they were assembled in the U.S.
$7.5 Billion for Charging Stations
Congress has allocated $7.5 billion to create electric vehicle charging stations.
Expanding EV Charging Network
The Biden administration’s initiative intends to broaden the production of electric vehicles and establish a comprehensive network of charging stations across the country, essential for powering zero-emission vehicles.
Ambitious Targets for Charging Network
The administration has set ambitious targets, including developing a nationwide network with 500,000 EV charging stations along major U.S. highways and achieving a milestone where 50% of all new car sales are electric vehicles by 2030.
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