Merced Times

Washington, D.C. - Congressman John Duarte (CA-13) has introduced the EV Fair Trade Act (H.R. 8495), aimed at ensuring electric vehicle manufacturers do not use child, forced, or slave labor in sourcing materials or manufacturing electric vehicles, including batteries. Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-3) and Congressman Burgess Owens (UT-4) joined Rep. Duarte in introducing this bill.

“We need to end child and slave labor. This bill ensures that Valley families never subsidize these awful practices. The minerals used for electric vehicles must be mined freely and fairly," said Congressman John Duarte. "I am proud to introduce this legislation alongside Rep. Van Orden and Rep. Owens to combat child and slave labor practices and ensure that hard-earned dollars are not used to subsidize these atrocities."

Rep. Van Orden stated: “The Biden administration’s electric vehicle push is subsidizing child slavery in the Democratic Republic of Congo – this is wholly unacceptable, shameful, and un-American,” said Congressman Van Orden. “I am proud to join Reps. Durate and Owens in introducing the EV Fair Trade Act so we can hold electric vehicle manufacturers accountable and put a stop to American taxpayer dollars being used to fund child and slave labor operations for EV mineral mining.”

Rep. Owens added: “As the electric vehicle market has grown in the West, the demand for battery materials – cobalt, copper, lithium, and more – has surged. What Americans often overlook are the pits where these minerals are mined using child and slave labor. We cannot turn a blind eye to this atrocity. Our bill will ensure that no taxpayer dollars are used to subsidize electric vehicles sourced from these blood minerals."

Background:

The U.S. Bureau of International Labor Affairs found cobalt, a key component of electric vehicles (EVs), is often mined by exploited children in dangerous conditions.

Seventy percent of the world’s cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where labor conditions are dire with mines described as having subhuman and hazardous conditions; an estimated 40,000 out of 255,000 cobalt miners in Congo are children, some as young as six.

President Biden has prioritized increasing EVs in the United States through tax incentives and regulations aimed at phasing out gas- and diesel-powered vehicles.

The EV Fair Trade Act would ensure that American taxpayer dollars are not being used to subsidize EV manufacturers utilizing child, forced, or slave labor in their development or production processes.

Specifically, this bill would:

Mandate EV manufacturers certify to the U.S. Bureau of International Labor Affairs that their components are free from slave or child labor;

Stop federal funds and tax incentives going to manufacturers without valid certifications;

Establish a public database tracking EV companies’ compliance with certifications;

Require the Secretary of Labor conduct random audits of companies’ certifications to ensure compliance;

Require the Secretary of Labor report certification status and audit results to Congress.