by Jim Talamonti
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would prohibit electric-vehicle batteries from Gotion and several other foreign companies from being used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Florida Republican Congressman Carlos Gimenez was pleased that the House passed H.R. 8631, the Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act.
“Our government should not be spending tax dollars to procure batteries from companies that profit from slave labor or provide another avenue for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) to expand their surveillance apparatus here in the United States homeland,” Gimenez said.
Gimenez was a leading sponsor of the bill.
Maryland Democratic Congressman Glenn Ivey said the amended bill was imperfect, but he urged his colleagues to support it.
“While these amendments have made the bill better, there are lingering concerns, including how a ban on Chinese-made batteries will impact DHS’ ability to buy American-made electric vehicles, since most American EV producers used Chinese-sourced batteries,” Ivey said.
Gotion is slated to receive more than $8 billion in combined federal and state subsidies for its planned facility in Manteno, Illinois.
A Kankakee Circuit County judge is hearing a lawsuit aimed at stopping the Gotion plant in Manteno over alleged zoning law violations and chemical dangers. A ruling in the case is expected on Sept. 30.
Michigan Republican U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar said there is indisputable evidence that battery makers Gotion and CATL are deeply connected to forced labor and the ongoing genocide in China.
“Gotion and CATL plan to build factories in the United States and thereby grow our dependence on their slave labor-tainted supply chains,” Moolenaar said.
A plant designed to supply parts for the planned Manteno facility has faced opposition in Michigan. In a recall election, Green Charter Township voters threw out five local board members who supported tax breaks for Gotion.
Republican Niki Conforti is challenging Democrat incumbent Sean Casten in Illinois’ Sixth District. Conforti said she agreed with lawmakers who passed the bill.
“Yes, I would have voted in alignment with the vote as it turned out. I’d like to see as much decoupling from China as we possibly can see, so I am in support of the bill as it passed,” Conforti said.
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Jim Talamonti is an Illinois reporter for The Center Square.
Photo “Gotion” by Gotion.
