Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act

Hozzl · 2025-01-14T19:03:55Z

Explore the details of House Bill 8631 Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act currently in Congress. Get insights into its purpose, current status, sponsors, and potential impact on Foreign Trade and International Finance. Stay informed on legislative developments.

1/14/2025, 7:03 PM

Summary of Bill HR 8631

Bill 118 hr 8631, also known as the Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress aimed at reducing the country's dependence on foreign adversaries for battery technology. The bill seeks to promote the development and production of domestic battery technology in order to enhance national security and economic competitiveness.

The main provisions of the bill include establishing a grant program to support research and development of advanced battery technologies, providing incentives for domestic battery manufacturing, and creating a task force to assess the country's current reliance on foreign adversaries for battery supply chains. Additionally, the bill calls for increased collaboration between government agencies, industry stakeholders, and academic institutions to accelerate the deployment of domestic battery technology.

Supporters of the bill argue that reducing dependence on foreign adversaries for battery technology is crucial for national security, as it would mitigate the risk of supply chain disruptions and potential cyber threats. They also believe that investing in domestic battery technology would create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and position the US as a global leader in clean energy innovation. Opponents of the bill may argue that government intervention in the battery market could distort competition and hinder technological progress. They may also raise concerns about the cost of implementing the bill and the potential impact on consumer prices. Overall, the Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act represents a bipartisan effort to strengthen the country's battery technology sector and reduce reliance on foreign adversaries. It remains to be seen how the bill will progress through Congress and what impact it will have on the US economy and national security.

Congressional Summary of HR 8631

Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act of 2024

This bill prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from using appropriated funds to procure a battery produced by certain Chinese entities. This prohibition begins on October 1, 2027.

The bill allows DHS to waive the prohibition if DHS assesses in the affirmative all of the following:

the batteries to be procured do not pose a risk to U.S. national security, data, or infrastructure;
the entity that produced such batteries does not satisfy the criteria for listing under Section 1260H of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (i.e., designation as a Chinese military company) or Public Law 117-78 (i.e., goods produced using forced labor in China, especially the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region); and
there is no available alternative to procure batteries that are of similar or better cost and quality and that are produced by an entity not specified in this bill.

DHS may also waive the prohibition upon a determination that the batteries to be procured are for the sole purpose of research, evaluation, training, testing, or analysis.

The bill requires DHS to notify Congress within 15 days after granting a waiver under this bill.

Read the Full Bill

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Current Status of Bill HR 8631

Bill HR 8631 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since June 5, 2024. Bill HR 8631 was introduced during Congress 118 and was introduced to the House on June 5, 2024. Bill HR 8631's most recent activity was Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 713. as of December 17, 2024

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 8631

Total Number of Sponsors

Democrat Sponsors

Republican Sponsors

Unaffiliated Sponsors

Total Number of Cosponsors

Democrat Cosponsors

Republican Cosponsors

Unaffiliated Cosponsors

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 8631

Primary Policy Focus

Foreign Trade and International Finance

Potential Impact Areas

AsiaChinaCongressional oversightEnergy storage, supplies, demandForeign and international corporationsPublic contracts and procurementResearch administration and funding

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 8631

Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence ActDecoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence ActDecoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence ActDecoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence ActDecoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act of 2024To prohibit the Secretary of Homeland Security from procuring certain foreign-made batteries, and for other purposes.

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