Blocking Bad Batteries Act

Bill: 118-s-5190
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2024-09-25
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Latest action: action_date: 2024-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Summaries:

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 5190 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 25, 2024 Mr. Scott of South Carolina (for himself and Mr. Rubio ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations A BILL To prohibit the procurement of certain batteries by the Department of State.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Blocking Bad Batteries Act . 2. Prohibition on availability of funds for procurement of certain batteries (a) Limitation Beginning on October 1, 2027, none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the Department of State may be obligated or expended to procure a battery produced by an entity specified in subsection (b). (b) Entities specified The entities specified in this subsection are the following: (1) Contemporary Amperex Technology Company, Limited (also known as CATL ). (2) BYD Company, Limited. (3) Envision Energy, Limited. (4) EVE Energy Company, Limited. (5) Gotion High tech Company, Limited. (6) Hithium Energy Storage Technology company, Limited. (7) Any successor to an entity specified in paragraphs (1) through (6). (c) Treatment of production For purposes of this section, a battery shall be treated as produced by an entity specified in subsection (b) if that entity— (1) assembles or manufactures the final product; or (2) creates or otherwise provides a majority of the components used in the battery. (d) National interest waiver The Secretary of State may waive the limitation under subsection (a) if the Secretary submits to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives— (1) a written determination that the waiver is important to the national interests of the United States; and (2) a detailed explanation of how such waiver is important to those interests.