House Republicans are taking a firm stance against the Biden administration’s lack of transparency and questionable grant decisions. The House Energy and Commerce Committee has organized a hearing titled “Growing the Domestic Energy Sector Supply Chain and Manufacturing Base: Are Federal Efforts Working?”
However, the hearing will witness the absence of David Howell, a top official in the Department of Energy’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Chairwoman of the committee, expressed her concerns about the Department’s decision not to appear at the hearing. In her opening remarks, she called it “completely unacceptable” for elected representatives to be denied the opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification.
The Department of Energy had faced mounting criticism over its decision to award a $200 million grant to Microvast, a Texas-based company with significant ties to China.
However, on Monday evening, the DOE informed congressional staff that the grant would no longer be awarded to Microvast. Republican leaders had been relentless in their calls for the grant to be rescinded due to concerns about the company’s revenue generation in China and the potential for Chinese government intervention.
Chairwoman McMorris Rodgers had invited David Howell to provide insight into the Biden administration’s efforts to untangle U.S. energy supply chains from China and other adversarial nations.
However, the Department of Energy declined the invitation, stating that they had already provided witnesses to the committee on previous occasions. This refusal has only fueled further speculation and raised questions about the Department’s commitment to transparency.
The cancellation of grant negotiations with Microvast is a step in the right direction, but it leaves room for scrutiny and demands answers about the motives behind this decision. The American people deserve to know that their tax dollars are being spent wisely and not funneled to China.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing, despite Howell’s absence, is an important opportunity for Republican representatives to demand accountability and ensure the interests of the American people are protected. Stay tuned for updates on this critical development.
Source Fox News
