Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy Rodgers (R-WA) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee markup of three bills.

Excerpts and highlights below:

BIDEN IS CEDING OUR AUTO LEADERSHIP TO CHINA

“At the Detroit Auto Show, President Biden said he believes America can own the future of the automobile market.

“Unfortunately, by using the EPA to institute government mandates and restrictions, he is handing the keys of America's auto future to China.

“The bills before us today are a response to those efforts.

“We’re offering a different approach, one that builds on a century of success rather than ignoring it.

“We want to secure America’s energy future the American way, through free-enterprise and innovation.

“We want Americans to continue to have the ability to choose the best transportation options for their lives.

“EPA wants to eliminate that choice by making nearly 70 percent of new vehicles electric by 2032. That is not how we win the future.

“We win the future by innovating in America, building in America, letting people choose the cars they drive, whether they are internal combustion engine vehicles, hybrid plug-in, hybrid hydrogen, electric vehicles, or maybe something still to be created.

“That’s the American way and how we ensure we continue to lead.”

AMERICAN AUTO MANUFACTURING LEADERSHIP

“America—not China—should lead in auto manufacturing.

“In 2007, China made the decision to electrify its economy and its transportation sector because it benefitted them economically and geopolitically, not because it would reduce carbon emissions.

“Don’t be fooled! Since 2007 their emissions have increased by 60 percent.

“Today, its building on average two coal fired plants each week to meet that goal.

“China dominates access to critical minerals.

“It controls some 76 percent of global battery cell production capacity for electric vehicles, around 75 percent of all lithium-ion batteries, and the majority of processing and refining capacity for over half of the world’s lithium, cobalt, and graphite.

“Last quarter, China became the largest exporter of new motor vehicles in the world, surpassing Japan.

“Forcing Americans to switch to EVs plays right into China’s hands.

“For example, China is now building EV car manufacturing plants in Mexico. Chinese EV companies are also expanding their foothold in Europe.

“We've seen the real dangers of ceding our energy leadership and being overly reliant on our adversaries for fuel.

“Why would we want that dependency for the cars we drive, too?

“Later this month, John Kerry will be traveling to China to resume the administration’s ‘climate talks.’

“I’m increasingly concerned that, given this administration’s record to date, these negotiations will prioritize China’s interests over our own, further ceding America’s energy and automotive leadership to a country with some of the worst environmental and labor standards in the world.”

PRESERVING PEOPLE’S MOBILITY OPTIONS

“Instead of building on America’s century of automotive leadership, the Biden administration is implementing top-down, government mandates that will drive up costs, stifle innovation, limit people choices, and benefit China directly.

“I have heard suggestions from many of my Democrat colleagues and our current Secretary of Energy, that we need to follow China’s lead.

“That is not the future Americans want. We, the United States of America, should be leading.

“Our goal is to increase, not limit, Americans’ choices for what vehicle they drive and what fuel they use and prevent China from controlling our automotive future.”

DRIVING A WINNING FUTURE

“Electric vehicles account for 4 percent of cars on the road in California and the grid can’t handle that increase in electricity usage.

“Governor Newsom has asked residents on multiple occasions to refrain from charging their cars in order to ration energy.

“My home state of Washington has joined California in their effort to ban all cars except 100 percent battery electric vehicles and we now have the highest gas prices in the nation.

“Clearly, this is not sustainable, yet President Biden and EPA want to force the entire country to follow suit.

“We cannot allow this to happen which is why I encourage every member to join our bills today, which will prevent California from dictating for the entire country what kinds of cars people drive and the fuels they use.

“The legislative solutions today will make life more affordable for Americans and ensure America doesn’t cede its automotive leadership to China.

“Ensuring our constituents have access to affordable, reliable, and functional means of transportation should be a bipartisan goal.

“We cannot win the future with China making our cars and the federal government dictating what we drive.

“And we cannot win the future by sending American automotive jobs overseas to China.

“We need to stay focused on the real goal, which is continued American leadership in the auto sector while also being good stewards of the environment.

“This is how we’ve led for decades and how we continue to be a world leader in reducing emissions.”

CLICK HERE to watch Chair Rodgers' opening statement.