WASHINGTON, D.C. — Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party has co-sponsored the Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act. This legislation aims to prohibit the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from procuring batteries from six companies based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), as part of broader efforts to decouple the supply chain from a key geopolitical adversary.

The bill was led by Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security. Other cosponsors include House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN), and Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX). The legislation mirrors a provision in the previous National Defense Authorization Act that barred the Department of Defense from procuring batteries from these PRC-aligned companies.

Chairman Moolenaar stated, “American tax dollars should never be used to further the Chinese Communist Party’s hopes to dominate key technologies at our expense. That’s why I am proud to co-sponsor the Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act which would stop the Department of Homeland Security from using American taxpayer dollars to purchase Gotion, CATL, or other Chinese batteries. Our military has already banned these batteries and DHS should do the same.”

Rep. Gimenez commented, “We cannot continue ceding dominance over our critical supply chains to our greatest geopolitical rival. I am proud to introduce this legislation to ensure the Chinese Communist Party can’t exploit economic or security vulnerabilities that could be created through DHS reliance on lithium-ion batteries, especially amid this administration’s ill-conceived push for electric vehicles."

He added, “The West was far too late to recognize the threat of Huawei, TikTok, and PRC-manufactured cranes installed at America’s seaports. We know that doing business in China means enriching the CCP––and that comes at a steep cost, even if there are perceived short-term benefits. America must be proactive in addressing the threats posed by the CCP to our technology, information, and way of life. The Department of Defense has rightfully ended the use of these PRC-manufactured batteries, and it is past time for DHS to follow suit.”

Chairman Green remarked, "The United States cannot give the Chinese Communist Party the opportunity to undermine our homeland security by relying on China for crucial components to our economy and security. I am proud to join Chairmen Gimenez, Pfluger, and Moolenaar on this bill to end any DHS reliance on batteries made by six dominant Chinese companies. We must defend against the CCP’s growing malign influence and protect the supply chains that are critical to securing our homeland.”

Rep. Pfluger added his support: "I am proud to support this legislation which builds upon prior work to reduce American dependence on China by barring the Department of Homeland Security from procuring batteries from six Chinese companies. It is imperative that we reduce reliance on the CCP and secure our supply chains to strengthen the Homeland.”

Background:

The PRC produces approximately 80 percent of global batteries and around 75 percent of lithium-ion batteries worldwide. The Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act targets six Chinese companies closely linked with the CCP: Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Ltd. (CATL); BYD Company Ltd.; Envision Energy Ltd.; EVE Energy Company Ltd.; Hithium Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd.; and Gotion High-Tech Co., Ltd.

Gotion High-Tech has invested $1.2 million in lobbying efforts this year alone and is supported by Swiss company ABB Ltd., currently under investigation by Congress for its role in dominating seaport crane manufacturing through a PRC-owned entity.

CATL stands as both a leading manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries globally and a significant player in electric vehicle markets. Concerns have been raised about potential security vulnerabilities such as malware installation on EVs leading to sensitive data collection or shutdowns of EV charging networks.

Last year reports surfaced indicating CATL had installed its batteries at various U.S locations including Florida, Virginia, Nevada, California; notably also at Camp Lejeune's Marine Corps Base solar farm which subsequently decommissioned these energy-storage systems following Congressional pressure.