Pallone Lauds DOE’s Investments in American Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains at Oversight Hearing

Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) delivered the following opening remarks today at an Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on the Department of Energy's (DOE) investments in American manufacturing and energy supply chains:

Last Congress, President Biden and Congressional Democrats delivered with the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These two laws include major investments that are helping us grow our economy, create millions of clean energy jobs, lower energy prices for Americans, bolster domestic manufacturing, and help us lead the global transition to a clean energy economy.

This aggressive action is necessary now. Extreme weather events are becoming more and more frequent with the worsening climate crisis. These events are costing our nation hundreds of billions of dollars every year. They are destroying whole communities – tragically taking lives, homes, and livelihoods.

That is why the investments made by the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are so important. These laws match the magnitude of the challenge we face and represent the largest investments ever made in America's future.

Americans across the country are already beginning to take steps toward using cleaner vehicles and energy sources, but we need to dramatically boost our domestic supply chains and manufacturing capacity in order to meet growing demand. For decades, we have become increasingly dependent on other nations, including China, for both the raw materials and the component parts that go into solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and other energy resources.

However, thanks to these two new laws, targeted programs at the Department of Energy and other federal agencies are fostering resilient supply chains and revitalizing domestic manufacturing. Companies have committed hundreds of billions of dollars to clean energy investments and have created more than 142,000 new clean energy jobs. And more commitments are constantly being made. Earlier this month, General Motors announced the second phase of a billion-dollar partnership aimed at rapidly increasing American battery manufacturing. All of this is going to help us catch up to China, which has spent decades investing to dominate the global clean energy supply chain.

As federal agencies continue implementing key programs, we're on track to build on these initial achievements. We can fight the worsening climate crisis and deliver economic prosperity for everyone by betting on American ingenuity and work ethic. That's why I'm pleased we are hearing from DOE's Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains today about how their important work creates jobs and speeds up the clean energy transition. I also look forward to hearing about DOE's robust process for vetting grant applicants and ensuring effective oversight of awardees for the full duration of projects.

These investments are going to make a big difference. It's interesting because, for years, Committee Republicans have voiced concerns that we are too reliant on overseas supply chains and manufacturers controlled by China, but they've opposed every major effort to bring those jobs and supply chains back to the United States. When we had a hearing on this same topic last month, it really sounded like some Committee Republicans were resigned to surrendering to China's dominance.

We cannot afford to quit.

And instead of working with us to find bipartisan solutions to big problems, Republicans have spent their time opposing real solutions and then attempting to undermine them at every turn. Before the last hearing, they questioned a potential DOE award to a company called Microvast. Then, when DOE conducted due diligence and decided not to move forward with an award to Microvast, Republicans continued to complain about DOE's work.

At the end of the day, Republicans seem to have little interest in transitioning to a clean energy economy. Instead, they want to prop up Big Oil companies.

I'm ready to come together and do the constructive oversight that will help DOE succeed, but I'm not willing to let my Republican colleagues throw in the towel because they would rather put polluters over people.

Let's work together to realize the full potential of these laws so that federal investments can deliver lower energy prices, a clean future for our children, clean energy jobs across the country, and a domestic manufacturing base that will be the envy of the world. I think it is very possible if we work together on a bipartisan basis.

Thank you, and I yield back.

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