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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Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 947, I call up the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 38) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Highway Administration relating to ``Waiver of Buy America Requirements for Electric Vehicle Chargers,'' and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

The Clerk read the title of the joint resolution.

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Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Res. 38.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to urge support for S.J. Res. 38, which was introduced by Senator Rubio of Florida under the Congressional Review Act, which would invalidate the Federal Highway Administration's waiver of Buy America requirements for electric vehicle chargers.

The joint resolution is intended to ensure our Federal dollars support American-made products rather than products from foreign competitors like China.

In November of 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act created the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program and the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program, funding these programs at $5 billion and $2.5 billion, respectively.

The Federal Highway Administration was quick to move a waiver of Buy America requirements for EV chargers to help achieve the Biden administration's very progressive policy agenda, citing a public interest need.

There is no public interest need here, Mr. Speaker. Rather, there is just a desire for the administration to continue to push its woke agenda without fully considering the far-reaching ramifications.

It is not better for the climate as China is the number one emitter of greenhouse gas emissions around the world, and it is certainly not better for American competitiveness or security as China has already demonstrated it will utilize infrastructure footholds as it did with telecommunications and Huawei to undermine America's national security.

Simply put, a waiver undercuts domestic investments and risks empowering foreign nations. If the administration is going to continue to push for a massive transition to EVs, it should ensure and comply with the Buy America requirements.

This joint resolution received bipartisan support in the Senate, underscoring the support of Congress for ensuring that these dollars aren't funneled to China.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the joint resolution, I and reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Hageman).

Mr. Speaker, passing S.J. Res. 38 is important. If the Biden administration continues to push its aggressive agenda on American families and consumers, at a minimum, they should have to comply with the Buy America requirements, at a minimum.

In 2021, despite Congress expanding Buy America requirements in IIJA to ensure our Nation's infrastructure comes from and is built by American companies, the administration is all too willing to issue a waiver of Buy America requirements for EV chargers in pursuit of its EV-for-all pipe dream. A Buy America waiver undermines domestic investments, and it risks empowering foreign adversaries like China.

We should not funnel taxpayer dollars to China in order to achieve this administration's unrealistic EV goals, which families and businesses have signaled that they are not ready for.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this joint resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

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