2023: Schweikert 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, Schweikert 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: Schweikert 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, Schweikert 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: Schweikert Effectively Voted To Disapprove A Commerce Department Rule Regarding The Duties For Solar-Energy Materials. In April 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert 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: Schweikert Effectively Voted To Disapprove A Commerce Department Rule Regarding The Duties For Solar-Energy Materials. In April 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert 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: Schweikert 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, Schweikert 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]