posey.house.gov
Washington,
April 28, 2023
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Today, The United States House of Representatives passed Congressman Bill Posey’s (R-Florida) historic, bipartisan, bicameral legislation to support American solar manufacturers and workers and to hold the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) accountable for breaking our trade laws. The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration, where the companion led by U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-Florida) boasts broad bipartisan support.
Specifically, Posey’s legislation (H.J. Res. 39) utilizes the Congressional Review Act to rescind a recent Commerce Department rule, which allowed Chinese solar manufacturers to circumvent U.S. tariffs by delivering their products to the U.S. through third-party countries, all to the detriment of American companies and workers.
“The Communist Party of China, which is attempting to subvert the world trade system to benefit Chinese businesses and shift the balance of power to their advantage, must not be allowed to break our trade laws, dump an inferior product into the United States, and undercut American manufacturing,” said Congressman Bill Posey.
“Unfortunately, some believe we must tolerate China’s bad actions and remain dependent on adversarial nations to build up domestic renewable energy. That’s a false choice. The United States can and should focus its resources into developing our own capability to manufacture quality solar products and boosting American competitiveness around the world, rather than supporting China’s quest to control energy supplies,” Posey continued.
“With every passing month the CCP gets closer to dominating the solar market, making it harder for Americans to compete. Today’s bipartisan vote holds China accountable for violating our trade laws and scores a big win for American solar manufacturers and workers. I want to thank my colleagues for advancing this important bipartisan legislation.”
“America is a nation of laws, which means it’s not within the president’s power to pick and choose which laws to enforce even if those laws go against their own personal political agenda. We must stand up to China’s violations of our trade laws and I am proud to see Congress acting in a bipartisan fashion to send a message to President Biden that rushing a green agenda cannot supersede laws that protect American workers and businesses. Our bipartisan joint resolution seeks to roll back this administration’s decision to exempt tariffs on solar panels manufactured in Southeast Asia, and I look forward to seeing it cross the finish line so we can put American manufacturers first and hold Communist China accountable for its use of forced labor and unfair trade practices,” said Congressman Bob Latta (R-Ohio), original Cosponsor of H.J.Res 39.
“It’s disgusting that Biden’s actions would shield Chinese solar companies, many of which are using child and slave labor, and allow them to circumvent U.S. trade laws. Not to mention – these are the same companies that have been linked to Chinese spy balloons that surveil us. We need to be taking every step possible to hold Communist China and these companies accountable for breaking U.S. law, starting with our CRA. I’m glad the House, led by Representative Posey, passed this measure. Now with support from the Uyghur Human Rights Project and bipartisan support in the Senate, I’m hopeful it will pass overwhelmingly,” said U.S. Senator Rick Scott.