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Washington, D.C. —  Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing titled “ Looking Back Before Moving Forward: Assessing CDC's Failures in Fulfilling its Mission .” Excerpts and highlights below: HOLDING THE CDC ACCOUNTABLE “Today’s hearing will focus on understanding the scope of what is wrong at the CDC so that we can begin to fix it. “This is not about villainizing the CDC, it’s about accountability. “Accountability for children kept out of school, who are dealing with mental, social, and emotional health issues, small business owners who watched their life’s work dry up, for people who lost their jobs because of vaccine mandates. “The CDC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic created a crisis in confidence in the agency. “The pandemic made it overwhelmingly clear that the CDC has serious, foundational problems and the roots, in many cases, span multiple administrations.” RECKONING WITH THE SCOPE OF CDC’S COVID-19 FAILURES “From the start of the pandemic, it was clear how challenging the novel coronavirus would be to contain, which was made even more difficult because of how underprepared CDC was to respond to the emerging threat. “No doubt that a virus as transmissible as SARS-CoV-2 was always going to be difficult. But in the earliest days of the pandemic, the CDC’s faulty test kits set us back. “Without testing we could not effectively slow the spread of the virus when cases amounted to just a few embers. “People also counted on the CDC to provide timely and clear guidance based on the best available science to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. “Yet, time and again CDC’s guidance failed to meet this expectation and instead consistently issued guidance that lacked clarity and the best available science. “More consequentially, CDC’s guidance reflected the agency’s preferred policy outcomes or political considerations. “At its worst, CDC released guidance that was influenced by teachers’ unions and was a significant signal to states that they weren’t fully confident in schools’ ability to return to school safely, despite earlier versions of the guidance suggesting otherwise. “Our children are paying a terrible price academically, physically, and emotionally for the CDC’s shortcomings. “Bad science in CDC guidance, when used to justify mandates, destroyed lives. “CDC public communications on COVID-19 vaccines were just as bad. Simply put, CDC overpromised when it should have known better. “CDC leadership told the public that vaccines prevented transmission while the agency was receiving reports of breakthrough infections among the vaccinated. “CDC downplayed the existence of adverse events while it was receiving reports of post-vaccination myocarditis in young men. “The CDC’s decades of experience running mass vaccination programs should have prepared it to manage the administration of COVID-19 vaccines. “The CDC knows only 30 to 40% of people get an annual flu shot—that vaccine hesitancy did not just begin with the COVID-19 vaccine.” THE PATH FORWARD FOR THE CDC “It is going to be a long road to rebuild this trust—and the agency cannot go it alone. “Many of the CDC’s COVID-19 failures have their roots in longstanding problems at the agency. “The CDC needs to address its failures with openness and, frankly, humility. “I am deeply worried that CDC’s insular, academic culture will prevent it from learning the right lessons. “Outgoing Director Walensky launched a reorganization of the CDC. Whether it survives her departure is unclear. “Whether the reorganization would address CDC’s foundational problems is also unclear. “This committee intends on conducting oversight to ensure the agency gets back on track. “The CDC still hasn’t provided this Committee with the information needed to independently assess the reorganization. “As Chairman Griffith noted, a conclusory letter sent to us the night before a hearing isn’t sufficient, but I do look forward to obtaining more details from the agency about this restructuring plan in the coming weeks.” THE NEED TO AUTHORIZE THE CDC “I’ll close by noting that Congress is not without blame for the current state of the CDC. “The CDC has never been authorized, Congress has never—in a single voice—told the CDC what its mission is and is not. That must be fixed. “This Committee’s majority is committed to working on CDC reform. “Today’s hearing, Dr. Miller-Meeks’ RFI, and our ongoing oversight of CDC’s reorganization are the first steps towards getting the agency back on track. “In addition to this work, I look forward to our health legislative hearing next week to reauthorize immediate preparedness and response programs. “It is critical we come together to assure the American people the federal government is equipped for the immediate response for all types of public health hazards—such as a pandemic, or a chemical, nuclear, radiological, biological or cyber-attack.”

Washington, D.C. —  Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) delivered the following opening remarks during today’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing titled “ Looking Back Before Moving Forward: Assessing CDC's Failures in Fulfilling its Mission .” Excerpts and highlights below: THE CDC FAILED TO MEET ITS EXPECTATIONS “Welcome to today’s hearing to look back and take stock of the recent performance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the CDC. “I speak for many of my colleagues when I say that the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that we did not have the CDC we thought we had. “Before I continue my remarks, I want to be clear: the COVID-19 pandemic was an immense challenge for public health agencies, healthcare providers, every level of government, and the American People. “There were always going to be mistakes made and we need to avoid the distortions of hindsight. “I also believe that there are many hardworking, talented doctors and public health experts working at the CDC who want to do their part to keep Americans safe. “One of my biggest frustrations, however, with the CDC is that when you look at all of the talent, all of the scientific knowledge, technical resources, and immense funding we have put into the agency, the end product is somehow less than the sum of its parts. “It's reasonable for the American people to expect CDC to use the best available science when preparing guidance and recommendations.” THE CDC APPEARED TO WORK BACKWARDS “All too often during the pandemic, the CDC appeared to work backwards. “The agency seemed to first decide its preferred policy outcome, whether that was universal masking, vaccine mandates, shutting down businesses, or school closures. “Once the policy was decided, the agency sought out data supporting that policy. “Data that could undermine CDC’s preferred outcome was ignored or discounted, particularly if the data came from outside the CDC. “As we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC’s recommendations carry great weight. “There is perhaps no better example of this than the process creating CDC’s school reopening guidance. The damage wrought by school closures has been enormous and well documented. “I do not believe my kids' education has recovered yet from these closures, even as we speak. “The single biggest factor determining whether schools were in-person or remote was the political power of public-school teachers' unions. “At a time when parents and school systems were desperate for accurate public health guidance, the CDC allowed the group most opposed to reopening to directly edit its finalized guidance. “CDC Director Dr. Walensky was even forced to state on national television that her school reopening statements, many took as a CDC position, she made were given ‘in a personal capacity.’ “As best I can tell this was the only time she spoke ‘in a personal capacity’ on an issue related to CDC guidance while agency Director.” THE CDC IGNORED VACCINE EFFICACY EVIDENCE “In addition, when the Department of Labor issued its nationwide vaccine mandate for companies with 100 or more employees in November 2021, it cited CDC science and guidance more than 80 times to justify the mandate. “At the time the mandate was issued, there was a growing body of evidence, largely ignored by the CDC, indicating that the vaccines did not stop transmission. “Thankfully, the Supreme Court struck down this mandate after only two months, ruling it as unconstitutional. “The CMS vaccine mandate for healthcare providers, which only ended on May 1st of this year, also relied heavily on the CDC, citing to the agency over 50 times. “Thousands of healthcare workers, who were heralded as heroes during the early months of the pandemic, lost their jobs in part because of CDC’s reluctance to admit that the limitations of the COVID-19 vaccines and failure to acknowledge that natural immunity can confer adequate protection. “The problems at the CDC that led to the failures we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic are not new. The CDC made mistakes during its response to Ebola and Zika and other smaller, localized events. “What differentiates the mistakes made during COVID-19 was the scale of the emergency and the impact of those failures on the American people.” THE NEED FOR A REVIEW AND TRANSPARENCY “It is appropriate that the CDC’s failures during COVID-19 prompted the agency to conduct an internal review. “The first step is admitting you have a problem. This review has now led to a reorganization that appears, on its face, to be extensive. But there’s no way for us to tell without more information from CDC. “As part of the reorganization, CDC has asked Congress for extensive legal authorities that would require state and local governments, pharmacies, hospitals, and other healthcare providers to report to the CDC health-related information. “This also had huge implications for privacy and data security. “In May, this Committee wrote to Director Walensky, requesting information and documents related to the review and reorganization. “Congress needs this information to understand and independently assess CDC’s reorganization. “Congress is constitutionally entitled to this information. “We did, however, receive a four-page letter last night that mostly reflects what is already posted on their website. “I hope that CDC will provide the complete documentation requested in our letter that they did not provide last night. “In closing, until we get full cooperation, the CDC’s request for new legal authorities cannot move forward. “In today’s hearing, we will hear from witnesses who will help us explore what reforms are appropriate and necessary at the CDC.”

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY), and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA), on behalf of the Health and Oversight Subcommittee Republicans, today sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General (IG) Christi Grimm. The letter highlights concerns surrounding improper Medicaid payments and challenges States face in maintaining accurate enrollment during and after the eligibility redetermination process.  “It is critical that CMS and States take action to reduce the number of improper Medicaid payments to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent to care for the most vulnerable who Medicaid was designed to help,” Chairs Rodgers, Guthrie, and Griffith wrote.   Background :  In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which included provisions for enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) of 6.2% for States and required continuous Medicaid coverage through the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE).  The PHE led to a surge in Medicaid enrollment, increasing from 70 million to nearly 95 million individuals.  As part of the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, States are authorized to start the process of redetermining Medicaid eligibility from April 1, 2023.  Research demonstrates that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining accurate Medicaid enrollment posed a significant challenge for CMS.  Past audits from the HHS IG have found inaccuracies in Medicaid enrollment resulted in improper payments.  The Chairs requested a briefing from the Office of the Inspector General as well as an audit that reviews and analyzes the following information regarding ineligible beneficiaries:  The reason for beneficiaries’ ineligibility  The types of factors and information considered at the time of enrollment  The causes of incorrect eligibility determinations  The approximate time individuals were ineligibly enrolled  The approximate dollar amount spent on recipients who were ineligible  The approximate dollar amount delivered to insurance companies on behalf of ineligible enrollees  CLICK HERE to read the letter to HHS IG Grimm. 

Do you know how much personal information on you and your family is available online for d ata brokers to harvest without your knowledge?   Data brokers are aggregating your online information to build profiles on you and your family members, which they then sell to anyone willing to pay. That includes government agencies, which are paying these data brokers to spy on Americans, creating an ecosystem of surveillance that jeopardizes peoples’ data privacy and security, and violates our civil liberties.  HOW THE GOVERNMENT IS USING DATA BROKERS TO SPY ON AMERICANS:   A California County hired a data broker to track the location and number of people attending church during government-enforced COVID-19 lockdowns. The location data was so specific that the county was able to identify how many people visited each structure within the church’s property.  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) used taxpayer dollars to hire a data mining and surveillance company to screen travelers , including U.S. citizens, by linking people’s social media posts to personal information like their Social Security number and location data. This is particularly troubling given DHS’ recent attempt to establish a disinformation governance board to surveil and censor Americans online.  The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) used a data broker company to collect personal data on investigative journalist Matt Taibbi who—through his Twitter Files reporting—was exposing the government's collusion with Big Tech to censor Americans and control what they see online. The IRS visited Taibbi’s home unannounced the same day he testified before Congress on the weaponization of the federal government.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) paid $420,000 to a data broker for access to Americans’ location data, which was harvested from tens of millions of Americans’ phones. This data was then used by the CDC to monitor whether Americans were complying with curfews and track who was visiting K-12 schools.  BOTTOM LINE: The Energy and Commerce Committee is investigating data brokers’ unrestrained collection of Americans’ data, and their ability to sell our most sensitive information to anyone including to government agencies. This is the type of behavior we would expect from the Chinese Communist Party—not the United States.   NEXT STEPS: The best way to protect Americans’ personal information online and end this surveillance state is with a comprehensive data privacy and security law, which would:  Give Americans more control over their data;   Bring these data brokers out from the shadows; Preserve law enforcement’s ability to protect their communities; and   Prevent the government from buying data from data brokers to violate people's civil liberties.   Read more about the Energy and Commerce Committee's bipartisan efforts to strengthen data security and privacy protections for Americans across the country, no matter where they live.   Expert Warns Data Brokers Profit from Unregulated Surveillance   We’ve Waited Long Enough for a National Privacy Standard  

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today announced a subcommittee hearing titled “Looking Back Before Moving Forward: Assessing CDC's Failures in Fulfilling its Mission.” “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has broken the American people’s trust through its mismanagement of recent responses, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its leadership has publicly acknowledged the agency’s failures and committed to reform through its ‘Moving Forward Initiative.’ However, we are concerned with the lack of transparency around how the CDC developed and is implementing the initiative. Restoring public trust will require public discussion of the causes of CDC’s missteps from across the public health sector to inform necessary solutions,” said Chairs Rodgers and Griffith.  Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing titled “Looking Back Before Moving Forward: Assessing CDC's Failures in Fulfilling its Mission.”   WHAT : A subcommittee hearing to discuss CDC reform.  DATE : June 7, 2023  TIME : 10:30 AM ET  LOCATION : 2322 Rayburn House Office Building  This notice is at the direction of the Chair. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at https://energycommerce.house.gov/ . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Lauren Eriksen with the Committee staff at Lauren.Eriksen@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Christopher Krepich at Christopher.Krepich@mail.house.gov . 

Did NIH Know that Decorated Scientist Planned to Conduct Gain-of-Function Research?  Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY), and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA), on behalf of the Health and Oversight subcommittee Republicans, sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services requesting that the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) top expert on pox viruses sit for a videotaped, transcribed interview regarding the mysterious discontinuation of his proposed experiment to supercharge the mpox virus.  BACKGROUND:   In a September 2022 Science article , Dr. Bernard Moss of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) discussed a specific mpox project:  From the article: “Moss has been trying for years to figure out the crucial difference between two variants of monkeypox virus: clade 2, which until recently was found only in West Africa and is now causing the global outbreak, and clade 1, believed to be much deadlier, which has caused outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo for many decades. He’s found that clade 1 virus can kill a mouse at levels 1000 times lower than those needed with clade 2. To find out why, Moss and his colleagues swapped dozens of clade 2 genes, one at a time, into clade 1 virus, hoping to see it become less deadly, but with no luck so far. Now, they are planning to try the opposite, endowing clade 2 virus with genes from its deadlier relative.”  The effect of the project would be to supercharge the less lethal but much more transmissible variant of the mpox virus that caused the recent U.S. epidemic by combining it with a highly lethal variant found only in the Congo Basin.  Energy and Commerce Republicans requested in a March 30, 2023, letter documents related to the experiment described in the Science article.  On April 26, 2023, NIH responded by noting the proposal did not go forward but did not explain how that occurred or how NIH could even be sure that the experiment was not already conducted.  KEY EXCERPT:   “You informed us that the study discussed by Dr. Moss 'has not been formally proposed, and NIAID has no plans to move forward with this research.' This is a stunning admission. Dr. Moss has been with the NIH since 1966, is one of the leading authorities on pox viruses, and one of the NIH’s most accomplished researchers. He has received numerous awards and prizes. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences, American Academy of Microbiology, Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and president of the American Society for Virology. Dr. Moss is currently an editor of Virology and a member of several editorial boards. Dr. Moss’s comments to Science indicate to us that he gave the study in question much thought and effort, and that he believed in going forward with the mpox study. The admission that he did not formally propose this research, and the NIAID has no plans to pursue it seems extraordinary. It seems unlikely that Dr. Moss changed his mind. On the other hand, it is hard to believe the NIAID has apparently overruled one of its most highly respected scientists. These circumstances demand a detailed explanation about what happened with this research project publicized by Dr. Moss.”  CLICK HERE to read the full letter. 

Lawmakers leave door open to compelling testimony if Becerra refuses to cooperate House Republicans are holding the Biden administration accountable for the surge of migrants flowing across our border illegally and the exploitation of unaccompanied migrant children that has followed.  Despite publicly committing to Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith that he would “absolutely” be willing to appear before the Subcommittee, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra has failed to make good on his promise.  On Friday, E&C Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Subcommittee Chair Griffith sent Secretary Becerra a letter demanding that he testify. In the letter , the Chairs outlined the great lengths to which they’ve gone to accommodate Secretary Becerra’s travel schedule and venue preference. They have offered a hearing date of June 13 or June 14.  READ: Exclusive Coverage on FOX News : Becerra’s appearance is being sought as the U.S. is continuing to deal with a migrant crisis at the southern border now in its third year. While the primary agency dealing with the migrant surge is the Department of Homeland Security, unaccompanied minors encountered by  Border Patrol  are transferred into HHS custody, at which point officials attempt to find sponsors—typically a relative or parent—for them.  According to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) statistics, the number of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) who arrive at the border has increased from 33,239 in fiscal year 2020 to more than 146,000 in fiscal year 2021 and 152,000 in fiscal year 2022. So far in fiscal year 2023, there have been more than 70,000 encounters of UACs.  […]  The Times reported how officials  reportedly ignored  signs of "explosive" growth in the child labor force, while staff members claimed Becerra pushed for discharging minors even quicker.  "If Henry Ford had seen this in his plants, he would never have become rich and famous," he was quoted by the Times as telling staff. "This is not the way you do an assembly line."  […]  "In the event you do not select either of the above dates, the Committee will be forced to consider other avenues to secure testimony from you that is needed to fulfill our constitutional mandate to oversee the administration of these programs," they say.   CLICK HERE to read more from FOX News.  CLICK HERE to read the full letter to Secretary Becerra. 

Washington, D.C. — Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) delivered the following opening remarks during today’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing titled “ Growing the Domestic Energy Sector Supply Chain and Manufacturing Base: Are Federal Efforts Working? ” Read more on FoxNews. com : “Biden energy official rejects GOP hearing invite as admin pulls grant from Chinese-linked company” Excerpts and highlights below: AMERICA’S DEPENDENCE ON ADVERSARIES FOR CRITICAL MATERIALS “Our country’s national security and economic prosperity depends on stable access to the products and materials our energy producers need. “Unfortunately, we currently depend on international rivals such as China and Russia for much of these energy supply chain inputs. “According to a recent report by the Heritage Foundation, of the 35 minerals identified as ‘critical’ by the Department of the Interior in 2021, the United States is 100 percent reliant on imports for at least 20 of them. “Additionally, the same report reveals, that, while China only possesses about 36 percent of the world’s rare earth element reserves, it controls more than 70 percent of the world’s extraction capabilities and 90 percent of world-wide processing capacity. “Last year, the White House drew attention to the fact that China controls 87 percent of the global market for magnets, which are used for everything from electric vehicle motors to electronics, and all manner of power-producing turbines. “The Biden administration has extolled the billions of dollars in grants and incentives in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act as a key component of our national strategy to secure our energy sector supply chains and support a domestic manufacturing base. “However, as Department of Energy Inspector General, Teri Donaldson, testified before this Subcommittee just a few weeks ago, this speedy spending spree carries risks, such as funding flowing through new programs that may lack appropriate internal controls and the push to get money out the door without adequate oversight of who that money is actually going to. “This Committee has led the way in expressing concern and inquiring into how the Department is vetting the entities competing for its large awards. “Last December, Chair McMorris Rodgers and I sent a letter to Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm requesting more information regarding the Department’s selection of Microvast as an awardee under its Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing & Recycling Funding Opportunity. “Microvast’s selection raised concerns regarding Chinese Communist Party influence.” THE DOE’S FAILURE TO TESTIFY TODAY “Just last night, our Committee was informed that the DOE has decided not to proceed with this award. “Others have expressed concern about the nature of partnerships, and joint ventures between United States companies and Chinese companies, as these entities attempt to take advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act’s tax credits and other incentives. “In just one example, in my home, the Commonwealth of Virginia, our governor, Glenn Youngkin, withdrew our state from the process of incentivizing Ford Motor Company’s proposed electric vehicle battery factory because of Ford’s subservient role in a partnership with a Chinese company. “Today, we will take a closer look at some of our federal policies and programs designed to address reliance on foreign adversaries for important energy sector products and materials and scrutinize whether they are really serving their purported goals. “While I appreciate the Department of Energy’s efforts to update the Committee on its new ‘Research, Technology, and Economic Security’ measures and the opportunity to discuss this issue briefly with Secretary Granholm a couple of weeks ago, many questions remain on awardee vetting. “I commend the Department for its increased scrutiny of the Microvast award. “I had originally hoped to have the Department of Energy Office of Manufacturing Director to join us today for this hearing, he could have delivered the good news in person. “Unfortunately, they refused to come before us, citing inadequate notice despite receiving an invitation to testify on May the 9th. “This in and of itself makes me somewhat wary of the Department’s vetting. “Since they are supposed to be doing the work, I would expect two weeks to be more than enough time for the Office to provide a well-informed witness who could articulate the program goals and the award review processes. “And if here, without letting us know, we are prepared to receive their testimony.” OUR EXPERT WITNESSES “Even though not in attendance today, this conversation is too important to postpone. “First, the Subcommittee welcomes Mrs. Diana Furchtgott-Roth, Director of the Center for Energy, Climate, and Environment at the Heritage Foundation and Adjunct Professor at the George Washington University. “We are also joined by Mr. Jeremy Harrell, Chief Strategy Officer at ClearPath. “Dr. Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, Senior Resident Fellow for Third Way’s Climate and Energy Program will also be testifying. “And finally, we have Mr. Kenny Stein, Vice President for Policy at the Institute for Energy Research. “Again, we are disappointed by the Department’s decision not to attend but thank our witnesses for sharing their ideas. “I look forward to today’s discussion and hope we can further the conversation on reshoring and near shoring of our essential supply chains.”

The American people deserve every assurance their dollars are not being funneled to China Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered opening remarks at today’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing titled “ Growing the Domestic Energy Sector Supply Chain and Manufacturing Base: Are Federal Efforts Working? ” KEY: Regarding the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) decision last night to reverse its decision to award $200 million to Microvast, Chair Rodgers said, “The Department’s refusal to participate in the hearing is even more concerning in light of this development. I’m concerned that the Department may be entertaining other problematic awards and only decided not to proceed with this after our congressional scrutiny.” Read more on FoxNews.com: “Biden energy official rejects GOP hearing invite as admin pulls grant from Chinese-linked company” Excerpts and highlights of Chair Rodgers’s opening remarks below: SECURING OUR SUPPLY CHAINS “We should all agree that our country must have a stable, secure supply chain for people to power our homes and businesses, fill up our gas tanks, and find opportunities for a better life. “We cannot be energy secure if we are at the mercy of our adversaries.   “China, for example, has been crystal clear of its ambitions to rival the United States for economic supremacy and dominate the entire value chain for new technologies. “The threat of losing ground to China grows more intense as President Biden rushes to force America to run on entirely renewable energy as part of his rush-to-green agenda. “As the Subcommittee on the Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials discussed last month, this forced, rushed transition hands China even greater control of our energy supply chain. “According to a recent International Energy Agency report, China dominates every stage of electric vehicle battery production downstream of mining. “China also possesses 97 percent of the world’s solar wafer capacity.” EMBOLDENING CHINA “The Biden administration has stated it will address this problem, at least in part, through the tax breaks, financial awards, and expanded loan authority in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). “Heavily subsidizing renewable energy and shoveling money in the form of financial awards out the door is not the solution. “These policies undermine our energy security and financially burden Americans already struggling with a high cost of living and would leave us even more reliant on China. “The Department of Energy created three new offices, including the Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains—or ‘MESC,’ which is charge of several IIJA and IRA programs.” DOE’S FAILURES SURROUNDING MICROVAST “As Chair Griffith said, we have posed a lot of questions about the Department of Energy’s proposed award to Microvast, a company whose production is based in China. “Yesterday evening, the Department informed the Committee that it has decided not to proceed with the $200 million dollar award to Microvast. “While the Department did not provide a reason for this decision, this development reinforces our concerns about the process for vetting applicants for these substantial awards. “The Department’s refusal to participate in the hearing is even more concerning in light of this development. “I’m concerned that the Department may be entertaining other problematic awards and only decided not to proceed with this after our congressional scrutiny. “The Department’s refusal to appear today does nothing to alleviate our fears, and this refusal to answer questions from the American people’s elected representatives is completely unacceptable. “On May 9th, this subcommittee formally invited Acting Director David Howell to appear before us at this hearing. “The Department refused to have Acting Director Howell or any other witness appear on this date. “In its official response, the Department told this committee that it had already furnished two witnesses to the Committee recently. “I will include in the record the Committee’s May 9th invitation to Acting Director Howell and DOE’s response, dated May 19, refusing our invitation. “The Department of Energy, not only refused to provide transparency to this committee, but they’re refusing to be transparent to the American people, who deserve every assurance that their tax dollars are not being funneled to China. “We will continue to demand transparency and accountability from the administration to guard against federal waste of funds through poor investments and further dependence on our adversaries.” BUILDING A MORE SECURE FUTURE “Since day one of the 118th Congress, my colleagues and I have led to celebrate American innovation and our energy dominance to build a better, more secure future for those we serve. “Today’s hearing is just another step towards that goal. “We are asking the tough questions to make sure the Biden administration’s spending spree on rush-to-green programs is not weakening our manufacturing sector or supply chain security. “We are disappointed that the Department and Acting Director David Howell decided not to participate in today’s hearing, especially given DOE’s poor judgement regarding the Microvast grant. “I am grateful, however, to our witnesses for appearing today to lend their expertise to our efforts to secure our energy sector from threats posed by foreign rivals and enhance our international competitiveness.”