Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers: “The CCP does not share our values—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all—yet President Biden continues to push his radical agenda that increases our reliance on China.  

“We cannot continue down this path. That's why the Energy and Commerce Committee is leading to hold President Biden accountable and reverse the consequences his agenda through solutions that bolster American leadership and promote freedom. It's how we ensure America beats China and wins the future.” 

Ahead of President Joe Biden’s meeting with China’s Leader Xi Jinping, these are the top oversight questions Energy and Commerce Republicans have for President Biden.

1. What is President Biden's plan to safeguard American taxpayer dollars from flowing to companies with ties to the Chinese Communist Party?  

Earlier this year, the Department of Energy announced that it had awarded a $200 million grant to Microvast, an electric vehicle battery manufacturer with ties to China. The Biden administration suddenly reversed its decision the night before our Oversight Subcommittee hearing with the DOE official that had signed off on the award. The DOE official did not show up to our hearing, and DOE has still not provided a sufficient explanation of what happened.  

2. How many American jobs will be handed to China as a result of President Biden's forced transition to 100 percent electric vehicles? 

President Biden and Democrats are forcing Americans to transition to electric vehicles within the next decade. China controls the vast majority of critical minerals mining, processing, and refining for electric vehicles, and it will continue to do so through 2032. 

Earlier this year, China announced that it would restrict exports to the U.S. of several minerals that are critical for EVs, a warning of how they plan to use their grip on EV technology against America. Democrats and the Biden administration are playing right into China’s hands with top-down government mandates that force an EV transition. These will further strengthen China’s foothold in the American auto industry, send American jobs overseas, and could lead to vehicles from China being one of the only affordable options left for Americans by 2035. 

3. Will President Biden confront President Xi for the Chinese Communist Party using TikTok to spy on and manipulate Americans?  

TikTok is a tool of the Chinese Communist Party to spy on Americans and manipulate what we see. During Energy and Commerce’s hearing on TikTok, the company’s CEO, Shou Chew, admitted the CCP has access to Americans’ data. We’re leading on a national data privacy standard so we’re prepared to stop the next technological tool or weapon China will use for its own strategic gain. 

4. What is President Biden’s plan to secure American supply chains and ensure none of the materials needed for his rush-to-green energy agenda are made using slave or child labor? 

China controls more than 90 percent of the critical minerals that are used to make wind turbines, solar panels, and batteries for electric vehicles and grid storage. In April, Energy and Commerce held a hearing exposing the environmental, human rights, and national security risks of the Biden administration’s rush-to-green energy policies. As Subcommittee Chair Johnson said, “We cannot be morally selective. It is our duty to ensure that American energy supply chains do not rely on slavery or child labor.” 

Bottomline: China is committing genocide and forcing millions of ethnic minority Muslims into slave labor. China also controls mineral mines in countries, like the Congo, where children are forced to work in inhumane conditions. At the same time, President Biden’s administration has shut down and delayed critical mining projects across the United States. 

5. Will President Biden hold China accountable for the lies it spread during the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed more than one million Americans? 

China has put the world in danger of future outbreaks because of the country’s refusal to cooperate with global investigations into the origins of COVID-19. Fully examining all available evidence to have a clearer picture of the origins of the pandemic is one of the greatest public health responsibilities of our lifetime. Energy and Commerce will continue to pursue the facts related to how NIH spends taxpayer dollars and to what extent it was involved in funding potentially dangerous research in China within a lab that was not at an adequate biosafety level. 

6. Did President Biden direct or condone Secretary Granholm’s secret interactions with the Chinese government prior to releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve? 

Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm had multiple conversations with the Chinese Communist Party’s top energy official just days before the Biden administration announced it would release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) in 2021. The Biden administration has helped support China’s national security at the expense of our own by using our strategic energy supplies to help the Chinese build up their own strategic reserves. Energy and Commerce led on H.R. 22 and H.R. 21, both of which passed the House with bipartisan support, to protect against this abuse.

In Case You Missed it: Check out Energy and Commerce’s roadmap that President Biden should follow to secure our competitive edge and beat China.