Rep. Demings Appointed to Economic Competitiveness Conference
Press Release
Today Rep. Demings announced that she has been appointed as a conferee representing the Homeland Security Committee to finalize the America COMPETES Act of 2022.
This significant legislation will help position America to lead the global economy for the next generation; strengthen our job market, security, and global leadership; win the economic battle with China; and restore our supply chain and competitiveness. It includes Rep. Val Demings' legislation, the Reclaiming the Solar Supply Chain Act, which will restore American leadership in solar power manufacturing and crack down on China's human rights abuses.
Said Rep. Demings, "I'm proud to announce that I am joining Democratic and Republican colleagues to finalize the America COMPETES Act to restore America's global economic competitiveness by investing in American factories and American workers, creating good new jobs, lowering costs and securing supply chains, and ensuring good pay and safe workplaces for American workers.
"I am proud that my domestic solar manufacturing legislation is part of this critical economic initiative. We cannot continue to allow the Chinese Communist Party to use forced labor and human rights violations to dominate the solar industry. We should not have to choose between clean power and human rights. These parts should be made by American workers right here in Florida.
"America has the strongest economy in the world, but we are falling behind in key areas. This legislation is an investment in workers, factories, science, research, and technology, which will help us continue to win."
Rep. Demings' Reclaiming the Solar Supply Chain Act, included in the America COMPETES Act, would provide funding to build new solar component factories in the U.S., supercharging a domestic industry that is currently dominated by China but which has the potential to create up to 1.5 million new jobs across the United States by 2035.
The American people overwhelmingly support this initiative. Recent polling found bipartisan approval for tax credits for solar energy manufacturers with two thirds of voters in support. The Conservative Energy Network found that 91% of voters want more domestic clean energy component production, and that solar power was the most popular clean energy technology, with 70% approval.
Background: The America COMPETES Act
The America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength (America COMPETES) Act of 2022 is a comprehensive package to restore America's global competitiveness.
This legislative package focuses on tangible, results-oriented proposals, many of which have already passed the House with support from both Democrats and Republicans. The goals of the package are to:
* Grow the economy and create good-paying blue collar jobs
* Ease supply chain bottlenecks
* Invest in U.S. manufacturing (including the semiconductor shortage)
* Invest in U.S. research and development (R&D)
* Strengthen national security and advance U.S. global leadership
* Compete with China and hold them accountable for human rights abuses (including additional sanctions for China's ongoing genocide of the Uyghur ethnic and religious minority)
* Address climate change
The U.S. Senate passed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act last year. Now that the America COMPETES Act is passed by the House, a conference process will merge the two bills for a final product.
Background: Solar Power/Reclaiming the Solar Supply Chain Act
Solar power in the U.S. is growing at a breakneck pace and U.S. manufacturers are struggling to keep pace, giving China an advantage. Over 230,000 Americans work in the solar industry, in more than 10,000 companies. The solar industry generated more than $25 billion of private investment in 2020. Also that year, 43% of all new electric capacity was solar -- the most of any energy type. According to the SEIA, "In 2020, states outside of California made up their largest share of the market in the last decade, led by rapid growth in Florida and Texas."
According to The Center for Strategic & International Studies, early stages of solar panel manufacturing rely heavily on forced labor in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). "Between 2010 and 2020, China's share of global polysilicon production increased from 26 percent to 82 percent, while the U.S. share decreased from 35 percent to 5 percent. According to Jenny Chase, head of solar analysis at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, "Nearly every silicon-based solar module--at least 95 percent of the market--is likely to have some Xinjiang silicon in it.' In January, a new report explicitly linked solar companies with factories in Xinjiang to the programs accused of forced labor practices."
Rep. Demings previously cosponsored two additional bipartisan bills to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable and protect Uyghurs in China, and voted for the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, legislation to crack down on goods made by forced labor in the XUAR, saying "The Chinese Communist Party's ongoing genocide of the Uyghur ethnic minority in China is a crime against humanity. They have lied and dissembled to cover up internment camps, torture, rape, and forced sterilization. They have attempted to eradicate the religious beliefs of the Uyghur people. It is evil, it is unacceptable, and we will fight it." She also called on the Biden Administration to ban Chinese goods made with slave labor and advocate for an official international designation of genocide.
The America COMPETES Act would provide funding to eligible entities for construction of new facilities that manufacture solar components as well as retooling, retrofitting, or expanding existing facilities that manufacture solar components. Priority would be given to manufacturers that provide the greatest potential for domestic job creation and economic development in economically distressed regions. The bill authorizes $3 billion over the next five years.
The Reclaiming the Solar Supply Chain Act is endorsed by the Sierra Club, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, the Center for Critical Minerals Strategy and the AFL-CIO.
The Reclaiming the Solar Supply Chain Act was cosponsored by Reps. Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Mike Doyle (MI-18) and Elissa Slotkin (MI-08). When the bill was originally introduced, they said:
Said Rep. Doyle, "As we continue to build a cleaner energy system, we should ensure that its components are being built here in America. Currently, foreign competitors are dominating the manufacture of solar panels and in some cases using forced labor to do so. The Reclaiming the Solar Supply Chain Act would promote the U.S. manufacture of solar panels and solar panel components. We have the best workforce in the world and a growing demand for clean energy, so making the investment that this legislation does would create good paying jobs here at home while creating a cleaner economy."
Said Rep. Dingell, "Expanding our domestic solar energy manufacturing supply chain will create jobs and put the U.S. at the forefront of innovation and technology. Through a grant program in the Department of Energy to support this supply chain, we can make sure we're not relying on foreign competitors for supplies. We're in a critical moment to provide for hard-working American families and jumpstart our economy -- this starts by ensuring the U.S. remains competitive while also combatting the climate crisis."
Said Rep. Slotkin, "In Michigan, manufacturing is our bread and butter, and we have the potential to be a global leader in clean energy manufacturing, in particular. This bill will make it easier to build cutting-edge solar technology right here at home, and in the process, it will create good-paying jobs and help the U.S. maintain a competitive edge over countries like China. This is a win for Michigan families, our environment and our national security."
Said Ultra Low Carbon Solar Alliance Executive Director Michael Parr, "Solar energy is critical to the U.S. economy. American companies and utilities need a reliable supply of sustainably manufactured solar panels to support our clean energy future. Too many imported solar panels are made in supply chains with high carbon emissions. The Reclaiming the Solar Supply Chain Act, by supporting the expansion of all elements of solar panel manufacturing right here in the U.S., can leverage American innovation, low carbon manufacturing and productive American workers to ensure the supply of sustainable solar we need. The Ultra Low Carbon Solar Alliance congratulates Representatives Demings, Dingell, Doyle and Slotkin for introducing this important legislation and encourage their House colleagues to support it."
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