2023: Fitzpatrick Voted To Override President Biden's Veto And
Disapprove A Commerce Department Rule That Suspended The Tariffs For
Solar Panel Materials Assembled In Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand Or
Vietnam Using Parts Manufactured In China. In May 2023, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted to override President Biden's
veto on the resolution that would "provide for congressional disapproval
of the September 2022 Commerce Department rule that provided for the
suspension of duties for certain crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells
and modules, or solar panels, assembled in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand
or Vietnam using parts and components manufactured in China. The rule
took effect on Nov. 15, 2022. Under the provisions of the joint
resolution, the Commerce Department rule would have no force or effect."
The vote was on a veto override. The House failed to acquire a 2/3
majority and rejected the motion by a vote of 214 to 205, thus the veto
was sustained. [House Vote 233,
5/24/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/24/23;
Congressional Actions, H.J. Res.
39]
President Biden Argued That The Rule Created A "Bridge" For New
Domestic Solar Businesses And Allowed Domestic Solar Panel
Manufacturing To Increase. According to Congressional Quarterly,
"In a message to the House, Biden said the rule creates a 'bridge'
for new solar businesses in the U.S., which are largely dependent on
China for materials like silicon wafers and photovoltaic cells, to
grow. 'America is now on track to increase domestic solar panel
manufacturing capacity eight-fold by the end of my first term,'
Biden said. 'Passage of this resolution bets against American
innovation.'" [Congressional Quarterly,
5/16/23]
The Domestic Solar Industry Urged President Biden To Veto The
Resolution. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The U.S. solar
industry pressed Biden to veto the legislation." [Congressional
Quarterly, 5/16/23]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted To Disapprove A Commerce Department Rule That
Suspended The Tariffs For Solar Panel Materials Assembled In Cambodia,
Malaysia, Thailand Or Vietnam Using Parts Manufactured In China. In
April 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for
a resolution that would "provide for congressional disapproval of the
September 2022 Commerce Department rule that provided for the suspension
of duties for certain crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and
modules, or solar panels, assembled in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand or
Vietnam using parts and components manufactured in China. The rule took
effect on Nov. 15, 2022. Under the provisions of the joint resolution,
the Commerce Department rule would have no force or effect." The vote
was on passage. The House passed the resolution by a vote of 221 to 202,
thus the resolution was sent to the Senate. The Senate passed the
resolution, but President Biden vetoed the resolution. [House Vote 202,
4/28/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 4/28/23;
Congressional Actions, H.J. Res.
39]
President Biden Threatened To Veto The Resolution That Would
Nullify Waivers The Commerce Department Issues For Solar Panels
Imported From China Through 4 Southeast Asian Countries. According
to Congressional Quarterly, "President Joe Biden pledged to veto a
joint resolution that would nullify waivers the Commerce Department
issued for solar-energy materials coming to the U.S. from China
through four Southeast Asian countries. Biden issued his veto threat
to lawmakers Monday, after the Ways and Means Committee voted last
week to approve the joint resolution (H J Res 39)." [Congressional
Quarterly, 4/24/23]
The Biden Administration Warned That The Resolution Would
Undermine The Domestic Solar Industry And Create Uncertainty For
Solar Jobs And Investments. According to Congressional Quarterly,
"The White House said the legislation threatens to 'undermine' the
domestic solar industry and generate 'deep uncertainty for jobs and
investments in the solar supply chain and the solar installation
market.'" [Congressional Quarterly,
4/24/23]
The Resolution Bridged A Gap Between Democrats Who Want To
Maintain Access To Inexpensive Materials For The Solar Industry And
Those Who Want A Stricter Trade Stance Against China. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "The joint resolution underscores a gulf
between Democrats who want to retain access for the solar industry
to inexpensive materials used in its business, like wafers and
photovoltaic cells, and those who want the administration to take a
harder trade stance against China." [Congressional Quarterly,
4/24/23]
A Commerce Department Report Found That Chinese Solar Companies
Had Avoided U.S. Tariffs By Shipping Materials Through 4 Other Asian
Nations Before Sending Their Materials To The U.S. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "Preliminary results of a Commerce
investigation, released in December, found Chinese solar companies
have avoided U.S. import tariffs by routing their shipments through
four other Asian nations --- Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and
Vietnam --- before sending their goods to the U.S." [Congressional
Quarterly, 4/24/23]
The Joint Resolution Would Retroactively Re-Implement A Tariff On
Solar Panles Made With Chinese-Manufactured Materials In Southeast
Asia. According to Congressional Quarterly, "A measure that would
retroactively reinstate a tariff on solar panels made with Chinese
parts in Southeast Asia was passed Friday by the House, 221-202,
which is short of the support needed to overcome a promised veto by
President Joe Biden." [Congressional Quarterly,
4/28/23]
The Joint Resolution Would Nullify A Commerce Department Rule That
Provides Waivers For Tariffs On Solar Materials From China Through 4
Southeast Asian Countries. According to Congressional Quarterly,
"The joint resolution (H J Res 39) would nullify a Commerce
Department rule that grants import tariff waivers to solar materials
coming from China, through four Southeast Asian nations and
ultimately to the U.S. China is the world's largest maker of solar
energy technology and the U.S. is dependent on imports to sustain
its solar industry." [Congressional Quarterly,
4/28/23]
The Biden Administration Lifted The Import Tariffs On Solar
Products Coming From 4 Southeast Nations In 2022, Arguing That It
Would Help The U.S. Buy Time To Create A More Robust Domestic Solar
Industry. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Last year, the
Biden administration lifted import tariffs on solar products coming
from those countries, saying it would buy time for the U.S. to
assemble a more robust domestic solar industry." [Congressional
Quarterly, 4/28/23]
2023: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted To Disapprove A Commerce
Department Rule Regarding The Duties For Solar-Energy Materials. In
April 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for
the "adoption of the rule (H Res 327) that would provide for floor
consideration of [...] joint resolution (H J Res 39) providing for
congressional disapproval of a Commerce Department rule related to
duties for solar-energy materials." The vote was on the adoption of the
rule. The House adopted the rule by a vote of 219 to 210. [House Vote
196, 4/26/23;
Congressional Quarterly,
4/26/23; Congressional Actions,
H.Res.
327;
Congressional Actions, H.J. Res.
39]
2023: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted To Disapprove A Commerce
Department Rule Regarding The Duties For Solar-Energy Materials. In
April 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for
the "motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and
possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 327) that would provide for
floor consideration of [...] joint resolution (H J Res 39) providing
for congressional disapproval of a Commerce Department rule related to
duties for solar-energy materials." The vote was on a motion to order
the previous question. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 218
to 210. [House Vote 195,
4/26/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 4/26/23;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
327;
Congressional Actions, H.J. Res.
39]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Suspend Tariffs On Infant Formula Through
December 31, 2022 From Countries With Normal U.S. Trade Relations. In
July 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for
the Formula Act, which would "suspend tariffs on infant formula from
countries with which the United States has normal trade relations
through Dec. 31, 2022. It would also specify that the formula would not
be subject to any additional safeguard duties, import or tariff-rate
quotas, or any other duties or fees that would otherwise apply upon
importation." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a
vote 421-2, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. The Senate passed the
bill, sent the bill to President Biden, and it ultimately became law.
[House Vote 363,
7/15/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/15/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
8351]