Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich joins ‘The Story’ to discuss the number of dissatisfied voters seeking total government overhauls and President Biden’s green agenda. President Biden vetoed a bipartisan resolution Wednesday that would have reversed his administration’s decision to waive “Buy America” requirements for taxpayer-funded electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
The resolution, authored by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., aimed to overturn the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Waiver of Buy America Requirements for Electric Vehicle Chargers. Republican lawmakers argued that the waiver benefits Chinese manufacturers who dominate the EV charger supply chain. However, President Biden defended his administration’s decision, stating that it encourages investment in critical industries and brings high-quality jobs back to the United States.
The Senate passed the resolution in November, with several Democrats joining Republicans. In January, the House also passed the bill, with two House Democrats joining Republicans in favor. Despite this bipartisan support, President Biden vetoed the resolution, highlighting its potential negative impact on his administration’s efforts to establish a domestic EV charger manufacturing industry and delay progress in establishing the EV charging network.
President Biden’s administration has been actively promoting domestic manufacturing and green energy initiatives. The Department of Transportation unveiled the final Made in America EV charger waiver rule in February 2023, which revised requirements for EV charging companies to be eligible for federal subsidies. The finalized waiver requires EV charger companies to ensure final assembly of chargers in the U.S. and increase the cost of American-made components in chargers to 55% of total product costs by July 1, 2024.
Critics of the waiver argue that taxpayer money should be used to support American businesses and U.S. manufacturers, rather than benefiting foreign companies. Republicans, including Sen. Rubio and House Republican Chair Elise Stefanik, have accused President Biden of prioritizing Communist Chinese EV chargers over American-made products.
President Biden’s goal is to ensure that 50% of car purchases are electric by 2030. To achieve this, his administration has allocated $7.5 billion for EV charging programs in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and expanded tax credits for EVs and charger installations in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
The decision to veto the bipartisan resolution has sparked debate and further highlighted the divide between Republicans and Democrats on issues related to the environment, manufacturing, and foreign competition. As the Biden administration continues to pursue its green agenda, it remains to be seen how this decision will impact the future of the EV industry and the U.S. economy.
Overall, the vetoed resolution and the ongoing discussions surrounding it underscore the complex challenges faced by the Biden administration in balancing environmental goals, economic interests, and national security concerns.
