Scott, Rubio Take Action Against PRC-Linked Battery Companies

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the Blocking Bad Batteries Act, to prohibit the U.S. Department of State from procuring batteries produced by certain PRC-linked companies. This legislation is an attempt to proactively mitigate future concerns stemming from the precedent set by Huawei’s deep integration into global telecommunications networks, particularly the 5G and smartphone sectors.

“Taking proactive steps to prevent our national security agencies from doing business with companies that are linked to the Chinese Communist Party and the People’s Liberation Army is in our nation’s best interest. Taxpayer dollars should never be used to further the goals of our adversaries,” said Senator Scott. “I am proud to introduce this commonsense legislation with Senator Rubio to safeguard our supply chains and prevent China from exploiting our technological dependencies for strategic advantage over the U.S.”

“It’s crucial that our nation, and certainly our State Department, doesn’t become dependent on Communist China for our battery supplies. This legislation is a vital tool to protect Americans, our national security interests and key supply chains,” said Senator Rubio.

“China’s growing influence in critical supply chains, especially in the EV battery sector, poses a significant threat to U.S. national security. The Blocking Bad Batteries Act ensures that the U.S. Department of State can no longer use taxpayer dollars to procure batteries from entities linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that could potentially jeopardize sensitive infrastructure. This bill builds on successful steps Congress has already taken to impose similar prohibitions on the Department of Defense. By preventing procurement from CCP-affiliated companies like CATL and BYD, we are making a crucial move to secure America’s infrastructure and supply chains,” FDD Action said in a statement.

Background:
In the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Congress moved to prohibit the U.S. Department of Defense from procuring batteries from certain PRC-linked companies, including CATL. This legislation takes a proactive approach to bar the use of such batteries at U.S. embassies around the world by applying the same restriction to the U.S. Department of State. Last December, Senator Scott joined Senator Rubio in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin raising national security concerns about the use of CATL batteries at Camp Lejeune and other U.S. military installations.

The text of the legislation can be found here. 

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