Lower Energy Costs Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, this amendment simply ensures that no undue influence can be wielded by the Chinese Communist Party using an existing provision, which I think reflects the overall sentiment behind this anti-CCP and forced labor provision of the entire bill.

The underlying section allows the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to accept and expend funds from non-Federal entities in order to pay for staff and information technology system development to expedite permit processing. They are authorized to accept funds in fiscal years 2023 through 2025.

This amendment prohibits those Secretaries from accepting contributions from non-Federal entities owned by the Communist Party of China or a person or entity acting on behalf of the Communist Party of China. Seems pretty common sense.

There are already provisions in the bill which would prohibit the CCP's involvement in certain parts of our energy market. They should not be allowed to participate in this one any more than they do in the others. There is no reason that our government should be accepting money from this well.

Let's remind ourselves that we are not talking about the people of China who wish to breathe free, like all people in the world do. We are talking about the Communist Party of China. We don't need anything from them.

Mr. Chair, I urge support and adoption of this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague from the other side of aisle that we are finally willing to get together, Democrats and Republicans, and be tough on the Communist Party of China.

Mr. Chair, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman), the chairman of the full committee.

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Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, I urge support of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, this amendment simply extends existing reporting requirements. The underlying section allows the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to accept and expend funds from non- Federal entities in order to pay for staff and information technology system development to expedite permit processing. They are authorized to accept funds in fiscal years 2023 through 2025.

In the original bill text, both Secretaries are required to submit annual statements to the committees of jurisdiction explaining why one or both of the following scenarios occurs:

They do not accept funds contributed; or

They accept but do not expend the funds contributed.

This amendment adds the requirement that both Secretaries submit a report to the committee of jurisdiction that includes, for each expenditure authorized:

The amount of funds accepted, and

The contributing non-Federal entity.

I know most folks probably don't read these reports, and they throw them in a pile. However, for future oversight efforts, it is important for the U.S. Congress to both specifically enumerate that agencies retain this information and then require them to provide it to us so not only we can see it but the American people can see how the money is being spent and who is spending it and who is giving it.

Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman), the chairman of the full committee.

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Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman for his comments. Again, the provision also exists. All we are saying is that we should be able to--the American people--should be able to follow the money. If there is a report that says this is where the money came from and this is where it was spent or it wasn't spent, then we can follow the money and we know. That is all we are asking for. That is all this does.

It doesn't slow anything down. It doesn't speed anything up. It just says you are capable; you are able. There is a way to follow the money.

Mr. Chair, I urge adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, the FAST Act provides for certain projects to be covered, which means projects that meet statutory requirements can gain voluntary access to a permitting timetable that contains all the necessary Federal environmental reviews and authorizations in one centralized location.

The underlying text ensures certain Defense Production Act projects also receive that covered status unless the project sponsor opts out. This amendment specifically excludes the Defense Production Act projects related to solar panel and EV projects from that preferential treatment.

This amendment does not alter the actual authorities provided in the Defense Production Act; it just says that the administration--any administration--can't get special treatment for projects that have absolutely nothing to do with national security.

Solar energy is often unreliable and cannot compete without subsidies. EVs cannot compete in the competitive market without subsidies.

Mr. Chairman, as far as I know, Congress hasn't declared war since I have been here. Using wartime authorities to subsidize these technologies simply doesn't change those facts. Worse yet, the projects empower the Chinese Communist Party and exploit their regime of slave labor.

Roughly 50 percent of the world's polysilicon necessary to produce solar components comes from Xinjiang and Turkmenistan where they have the slave labor operation. Industry representatives have actually acknowledged the major disruption caused by this Congress' efforts to stop forced labor in the region. We should try to stop it every way we can, and this is one of the ways. Again, the solution is not to abuse wartime authorities to prop up domestic industry incapable of making a profit without generous taxpayer subsidies.

Finally, while this amendment is relatively narrow in scope, I hope we have a broader conversation about the Defense Production Act on our side of the aisle to prevent abuses from this and future administrations.

Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, again, this is about using wartime powers, and we haven't declared war.

Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman), the chairman of the full committee.

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Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman and would echo his gratitude for the staff. There are long nights and a lot of details to be worked through. To get these things right, we rely on folks that oftentimes are more the experts than we are. We sure appreciate their sacrifices on our behalf and on behalf of the Nation.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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