House Passes Bill to Limit DHS Purchases of Chinese-Made Batteries

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The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at curbing the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) reliance on batteries produced by certain Chinese companies. The legislation, known as the "Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act" (H.R. 8631), was introduced by Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) and passed with bipartisan support.

The bill targets six Chinese companies with alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), including Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), the world's largest electric vehicle battery manufacturer. The legislation prohibits DHS from purchasing batteries from these companies, reflecting growing concerns over national security risks associated with Chinese technology.

"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 to expand their surveillance apparatus here in the United States homeland," said Rep. Gimenez during the House floor debate.

The bill's passage is part of a broader legislative effort by House Republicans to reduce U.S. dependence on Chinese supply chains, particularly in critical areas like clean energy. Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), a co-sponsor of the bill and chairman of the House Select Committee on the CCP, emphasized the strategic importance of this move. "American tax dollars should never be used to further the Chinese Communist Party’s hopes to dominate key technologies at our expense," he stated.

The bill follows reports and allegations that companies like CATL have deep ties to the Chinese military, raising concerns about potential security vulnerabilities in U.S. infrastructure. These concerns have been underscored by recent actions such as the removal of CATL batteries from a U.S. Marine Corps base in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, after pressure from Congress.

Rep. Gimenez urged the Senate to pass the bill swiftly, highlighting the importance of reducing U.S. reliance on Chinese-made batteries to safeguard national security. "We must proactively stay ahead and address these threats that undermine the U.S. supply chain and leave our national security at risk," he added.

The legislation now moves to the Senate, where its supporters hope for quick approval to bring it closer to becoming law.