The US House of Representatives voted to approve Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-Fl) joint resolution to nullify one of President Joe Biden’s proposed rules on Electric Vehicles (EVs).
President Biden’s rule would waive ‘Buy America’ requirements for EV charging stations.
‘Buy America’ requirements mandate that all steel and iron that are permanently incorporated into a federally funded project must be produced in the United States.
Under Biden’s rule, EV chargers would be exempt from domestic production requirements, enabling the use of taxpayer dollars for purchasing EV chargers manufactured abroad.
Senator Rubio’s resolution would scrap Biden’s proposed rule and prevent federal funds from being used to purchase foreign-made EV chargers.
Rubio and fellow conservatives are concerned the US government could end up purchasing EV chargers from countries hostile to the US, such as China.
Rubio commended the House for passing his resolution as a “common-sense step… essentially blocking Biden's rule allowing American taxpayer dollars to go to Chinese EV chargers.”
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
“There is absolutely no sane reason to funnel taxpayer dollars to Chinese companies,” continued Rubio via press release.
Rubio’s resolution narrowly passed in the House and Senate by a vote of 50-48 and 209-198, respectively.
Rubio urged Biden “act in the interest of the American people, follow the bipartisan wishes of Congress, and stop favoring foreign industry.”
However, despite the proposed ‘Buy America’ waiver, Biden’s administration has claimed its policies intend to create a “reliable and made-in-America national network of EV chargers.”
“America led the arrival of the automotive era, and now we have a chance to lead the world in the EV revolution—securing jobs, savings, and benefits for Americans in the process,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
