Slotkin Statement on Rollout of the Ford F-150 Lightning, President's Visit to Dearborn

Statement

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) released the following statement after joining President Biden for the unveiling of the Ford F-150 Lightning in Dearborn, Michigan today:

"The rollout of the all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning reinforces what we've always known: there's no limit to what American ingenuity and manufacturing can accomplish, and Michigan's workers will always come through.

"But as I walked through this bustling plant today, I was also thinking of the three plants across Michigan, including GM's Grand River Assembly Plant in my district, that are currently sitting idle because of a shortage of 14-cent microchips, made largely overseas.

"We are seeing these supply chain vulnerabilities in industries all over the country. When the production of American cars depends on foreign suppliers half a world away, it cuts to the heart of our economic security. That's why I launched a bipartisan task force earlier this year to write legislation to strengthen and protect our national security supply chains.

"The development of mass market electric trucks is a huge milestone, and the President's plan to invest in this new technology represents a once-in-a-generation moment to surge ahead of China when it comes to advanced manufacturing and addressing climate change. The current situation with electric vehicles -- where China is ahead of us but we are poised to take the lead -- reminds me of the space race with the Soviet Union: they may have gotten to space first, but we doubled down and were the first to put a man on the moon.

"But here's the thing: the moon rocket didn't rely on foreign parts. We could have the greatest plants and strategies for advanced manufacturing, but as long as our supply chains depend on China for key minerals and components, we remain critically vulnerable. Until we get our house in order, supply chain shocks will continue to be our Achilles' heel.

"That's what I told the President today, and after speaking with him and hearing his speech, I know he gets it. Now we need to get to work to see it through."

Source