House passes resolution that holds Biden to ‘Buy American’ requirements for EV charging buildout

The Senate passed the measure in November, and it now heads to Biden, who has promised to veto it. New York Rep. Elise Stefanik called the rules the resolution shoots down "pro-Communist China."

By Kevin Killough

Published: January 12, 2024 12:48pm

The House voted Thursday to hold the Biden administration to “Buy American” requirements on its taxpayer-funded electric-vehicle charging station buildout.

Two Democrats joined 207 Republicans in a 209-198 vote in favor of a joint resolution nullifying the Federal Highway Administration’s waiver of “Buy American” requirements.

The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allocated $7.5 billion for EV charging infrastructure.

In February 2023, the Department of Transportation released final rules that eased strict rules requiring that companies producing EV chargers assemble their products in the U.S. starting in Jan. 1, 2023, according to Fox News.

Beginning in July 2023, the chargers were required to be produced with no less than 25% American-made components based on their cost. Then that increased to 55% starting on Jan. 1, 2024.

The resolution targeted a waiver that scrapped the 25% domestic component requirement and pushed the 55% deadline to July of this year.

“I voted to overturn Joe Biden’s pro-Communist China rule that would undermine American businesses that have made significant investments into EV manufacturing,” said Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., in a statement.

Maine’s Rep. Jared Golden and North Carolina’s Rep. Donald Davis were the two Democrats who voted in favor of the resolution.

The Senate passed the measure in November in a 50-48 vote, and it now heads to President Joe Biden. The White House has promised to veto it.