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Florida Republican Congressman Carlos Gimenez was pleased that
the House passed H.R. 8631, the Decoupling from Foreign
Adversarial Battery Dependence Act.
“Our government should not be spending tax dollars to procure
batteries from companies that profit from slave labor or provide
another avenue for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) to expand
their surveillance apparatus here in the United States
homeland,” Gimenez said.
Gimenez was a leading sponsor of the bill.
Maryland Democratic Congressman Glenn Ivey said the amended bill
was imperfect, but he urged his colleagues to support it.
“While these amendments have made the bill better, there are
lingering concerns, including how a ban on Chinese-made
batteries will impact DHS' ability to buy American-made electric
vehicles, since most American EV producers used Chinese-sourced
batteries,” Ivey said.
Gotion is slated to receive more than $8 billion in combined
federal and state subsidies for its planned facility in Manteno,
Illinois.
A Kankakee Circuit County judge is hearing a lawsuit aimed at
stopping the Gotion plant in Manteno over alleged zoning law
violations and chemical dangers. A ruling in the case is
expected on Sept. 30.
Michigan Republican U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar said there is
indisputable evidence that battery makers Gotion and CATL are
deeply connected to forced labor and the ongoing genocide in
China.
“Gotion and CATL plan to build factories in the United States
and thereby grow our dependence on their slave labor-tainted
supply chains,” Moolenaar said.
A plant designed to supply parts for the planned Manteno
facility has faced opposition in Michigan. In a recall election,
Green Charter Township voters threw out five local board members
who supported tax breaks for Gotion.
Republican Niki Conforti is challenging Democrat incumbent Sean
Casten in Illinois’ Sixth District. Conforti said she agreed
with lawmakers who passed the bill.
“Yes, I would have voted in alignment with the vote as it turned
out. I’d like to see as much decoupling from China as we
possibly can see, so I am in support of the bill as it passed,”
Conforti said.
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