Congressional Republicans need to know if the federal authorities is buying photo voltaic panels from China that had been constructed utilizing slave labor.
Lawmakers despatched a letter to the Division of Homeland Safety’s inspector common elevating the alarm in regards to the subject, which has come more and more into the highlight because the Biden administration pushes the U.S. towards renewable power sources, a market that China dominates.
U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs, R-Ohio, and different Republicans on the Home Oversight Committee raised questions on China’s infamous human rights violations and why U.S. taxpayers would assist unethical practices and enrich considered one of America’s biggest rivals.
“If we aren’t vigilant in our efforts to make sure that no photo voltaic panels or parts made with slave labor are being bought with federal {dollars} from FEMA or different U.S. companies and used on comparable photo voltaic tasks, it’s attainable america may very well be straight funding the genocide and abuse occurring in China’s Xinjiang area,” the letter stated.
The letter, addressed to IG Joseph Cuffari, says that just about 85 p.c of the world’s photo voltaic parts are made in China.
For instance, 40 p.c of polysilicon, a mandatory photo voltaic panel part, comes from the Xinjiang area, which is understood for its enslavement of Uyghurs, a principally Muslim group that has been compelled into internment camps in China.
“As members of the Home Committee on Oversight and Reform, we’re writing in the present day to specific critical concern about the opportunity of Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) funds getting used to complement China, an adversary with a document of human rights abuses and slave labor,” the letter stated.
“In keeping with the U.S. Division of State, genocide and slave labor within the Xinjiang area of China are being actively perpetrated towards the Uyghur minority.”
The lawmakers pointed to laws not too long ago handed to stop these sorts of purchases.
“As you understand, the Uyghur Pressured Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) was signed into regulation in December 2021 to stop the U.S. buy or importation of products made with compelled labor within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Area of China,” the letter stated. “We strongly assist the UFLPA however stay troubled america should presumably be utilizing taxpayer {dollars} to buy merchandise manufactured utilizing slave labor in direct violation of the UFLPA.”
The lawmaker’s letter straight asks the IG to research. Additionally they level to federal funds spent by the Federal Emergency Administration Company on energy grids.
“Following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, the federal authorities dedicated practically $8 billion to help with catastrophe reduction within the [U.S. Virgin Islands], with nearly $5 billion of these {dollars} coming from FEMA,” the letter stated. “A big sum of the catastrophe reduction funds was allotted to bolster and rebuild the USVI’s power grid, making it extra dependable and proof against future storms.
“Moreover, the USVI introduced in 2021 {that a} new 28-megawatt photo voltaic micro-grid venture on St. Croix was awarded $4.4 million from FEMA for the preliminary section of building whereas USVI officers count on FEMA to fund the majority of the remaining $129 million venture price.”
The federal authorities more and more utilizing taxpayer {dollars} to fund photo voltaic panel analysis and manufacturing within the identify of warding off local weather change, however that funding has include geopolitical implications.
Now, Republicans need to know if that federal spending got here at an excellent greater price.
“This territory-wide transition to solar energy will doubtlessly serve to massively enrich China,” the letter stated.
The letter follows in its entirety:
Gibbs-Comer Letter to IG by The Western Journal on Scribd
A model of this text first appeared at The Center Square.
This text appeared initially on The Western Journal.
