Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under the Rule Submitted By the Federal Highway Administration Relating to ``Waiver of Buy America Requirements for Electric Vehicle Chargers''

Floor Speech

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Mrs. BICE. Mr. Speaker, since President Biden took office, he has not only waged a full-scale assault on American energy production but also on widely used gas-powered automobiles in order to cater to electric vehicles.

Despite EVs accounting for only 14 percent of all vehicles sold in 2022, this administration is proceeding forward with its goal to install 500,000 EV chargers by 2030.

While I oppose the continued push toward electrification, especially when America's baseload power is unable to keep pace with current demands, I was at least pleased that Congress put in place requirements for the IIJA that we ``Buy American.''

However, even this is now being ignored. The Federal Highway Administration is attempting to issue new waivers to bypass the mandate.

Instead of upholding the safeguards that are critical to protect taxpayer dollars, the administration decided to increase our country's reliance on bad actors like China, who already control the EV sector.

Communities are already struggling with electric transformer shortages. Our grid is in need of major upgrades, and the last thing we should do is empower our adversaries by issuing these waivers to build charging stations for vehicles whose battery components primarily come from China.

I find it incredible that President Biden, who pushed so hard for this legislation, now wants to completely ignore a key provision that was added to safeguard our Nation from China and protect American jobs.

This is wrong.

I call upon the Federal Highway Administration to rescind this onerous rule, and I urge my colleagues to support the resolution of disapproval.

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