Congressman John R. Moolenaar | Rep. John R. Moolenaar Official U.S House Headshot
Congressman John R. Moolenaar | Rep. John R. Moolenaar Official U.S House Headshot
On June 22, 2023, Congressman John Moolenaar, a member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, proposed an amendment to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) budget for 2024. The amendment was offered during the House Appropriations Committee’s consideration of a bill to fund DOE in 2024. Moolenaar's amendment prohibits the DOE from awarding any research funding or contracts to companies that partner with adversaries of the United States. Moolenaar’s amendment was adopted by the committee and included in the bill. The bill now goes to the full House of Representatives.
"We cannot allow the recipients of taxpayer dollars to receive grants for battery research and then turn around and work with China-based companies. Our country is in a competition against the Chinese Communist Party and we must have guardrails that protect our research dollars, our intellectual property, and the innovation funded by hardworking men and women who pay taxes. Companies like Gotion, which is based in China, have no business receiving federal funding," said Moolenaar.
In March, Gotion North America Vice President Chuck Thelen noted that his company is under contract with the Department of Energy through the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium. Gotion is a subsidiary of China-based Gotion High Tech.
Moolenaar is also a member of the House Appropriations Committee, and he is the only member of the committee from Michigan. A copy of his amendment can be found here.
Original source can be found here.
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