Duval Times

Today, Senators Rick Scott and Maggie Hassan introduced a new bill aimed at reducing the United States' reliance on Chinese-made batteries. The legislation, known as the Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act, seeks to address national security concerns related to cybersecurity, supply chain disruptions, and domestic manufacturing. Specifically, the act would prohibit the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from purchasing batteries from six companies based in China. Congressman Carlos Gimenez is championing this legislation in the House of Representatives.

Senator Rick Scott expressed his views on the matter: "America is entering its Golden Age with President Trump back in the White House, and that means prioritizing American manufacturing and self-reliance. Communist China is doing everything it can to achieve global dominance and is willing to harm Americans and businesses, manipulate our supply chains and breach our cybersecurity in the process." He added that sourcing a majority of batteries from Chinese-linked manufacturers poses an unnecessary risk to national security. Scott stated he was proud to introduce this legislation as a measure against potential threats posed by China.

Senator Maggie Hassan also emphasized the importance of this legislative effort: “Our national security should not require reliance on components made by adversaries like China. This bipartisan legislation will help safeguard both our supply chains and our national security by preventing the Department of Homeland Security from purchasing Chinese batteries for the devices and technology that keep Americans safe.”

The bill aims to ensure greater security for U.S. supply chains while promoting domestic production capabilities.