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House Majority Blocks Stauber’s Commonsense Anti-Child Labor Amendment for Second Time

September 24, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, during consideration of Speaker Pelosi's partisan Green New Deal legislation (H.R. 4447), Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) introduced two commonsense amendments to reduce reliance on unreliable foreign nations and horrific child labor for America's energy needs and create more opportunities for the American worker. Despite the fact that both amendments received bipartisan support in the past, the majority blocked both measures.

Of this partisan package, Congressman Stauber stated, "At a time when so many Americans are struggling with the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is discouraging, yet not surprising that Speaker Pelosi brought forward legislation that has more to do with the Green New Deal than expanding access to affordable energy and rebounding our economy. As we work to rebuild the greatest economy in the world, it is imperative that we put forward solutions that encourage responsible American energy innovation and create jobs here at home, which is why I put forward two commonsense amendments to help do just that."

During debate on H.R. 4447, Congressman Stauber introduced the following amendments for consideration:

  • An amendment to require the Secretary of Commerce to certify that no electric vehicle infrastructure, or other emissions-reduction technology are built with minerals sourced from child labor.
  • An amendment to expand the legislation's Buy America provisions to include copper, nickel, cobalt, platinum-group elements, titanium, vanadium, manganese, and rare-earth elements.

Of his amendments' failure, Congressman Stauber stated, "As a nation, we frequently depend on unreliable nations like China, Russia, India, and the Congo for the resources that power our energy needs. In fact, so-called green technology is often reliant on supply chains originating with child labor. Rather than relying on foreign supply chains that use child labor, we should fulfill our mineral needs here in America under the strongest labor and environmental standards in the world. I know miners in northern Minnesota are ready to produce the minerals to help meet our ever-growing energy needs, so I was incredibly disappointed that my amendments were blocked."

BACKGROUND:

Congressman Stauber's anti-child labor amendment recently passed the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this past June with strong bipartisan support while his Buy America expansion amendment garnered several Democrat votes. The following day, Pelosi's allies on the Committee removed his anti-child labor amendment from the bill's text with a Manager's Amendment. Learn more, HERE.

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