John Garamendi: “Sometimes it is a mistake to listen to each other, and perhaps that is where we are right now. I am hearing Mr. Larsen…”

“Sometimes it is a mistake to listen to each other, and perhaps that is where we are right now. I am hearing Mr. Larsen present the legislation, which actually would repeal the Make It In America provisions into the future. I hear Mr. Larsen talk about how the President's rule would actually waive the Buy America requirements that we put into the bipartisan infrastructure bill until July 1, 2024--5 months from now. That waiver is for 5 months going forward, at which time the Buy America rules that we put into the law are back in effect. I hear my colleagues who are proposing this CR say something quite different, that somehow this CR would reestablish the Buy America provisions. Unfortunately, it doesn't. It is just the opposite. It would eliminate going on beyond July 1 the requirement to Buy America. Maybe I am confused. I think not. I do know that in our T&I Committee we spent a lot of time on Buy America, but the CR not only eliminates the current Federal regulation that delays until July 1 the implementation of the Buy America requirements; it goes beyond that. It also reinstates another provision, that is a 1983 waiver of the Buy America requirements. So if indeed we want to help American industry, if we want to help American labor, and if we want to really build out the infrastructure necessary for electric vehicles, then we are going to need to have those charging stations.…”