US bill targeting China-made batteries shows lawmakers’ growing alarm and differences

Legislation meant to bar procurement by Department of Homeland Security advances despite lawmakers admitting a lack of information on suppliers

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The US House of Representatives bill under consideration on Wednesday closely resembled legislation that passed Congress in January. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 6:50am, 13 Jun 2024Updated: 8:53am, 13 Jun 2024

Growing concern among US lawmakers about how China might be spying on America – and their differences over how to address it – came into sharp focus in Washington on Wednesday.

Amid fiery rhetoric including an accusation of “pro-China” stalling tactics, a Republican-sponsored bill aimed at barring the US Department of Homeland Security from sourcing Chinese-made batteries eventually passed a US House committee.

But not before Democratic members of the House Homeland Security committee blasted their Republican counterparts, pressing for what they called “common sense” queries about the proposal at hand.

“Who does the Department of Homeland Security buy batteries from now?” asked Democratic congressman Tom Suozzi of New York.

Democratic congressman Tom Suozzi (centre), with his wife Helene (left) and daughter Caroline (right), upon winning election to the US House of Representatives on February 13, 2024, in Woodbury, New York. Photo: EPA-EFE

Suozzi sought an amendment to the bill, requiring Homeland Security to submit a report detailing the potential operational impacts of the legislation’s implementation.