U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) announced on Friday he had introduced legislation in Congress to prevent President Joe Biden from manipulating the Defense Production Act (DPA).
Two bills, the Bullets not Batteries Act and the Planes not Panels Act, would prevent what Perry characterized as a misuse of the DPA to advance “green” energy solutions under the guise of climate change being a National Security threat. The bills, Perry said, would prohibit the use of the DPA to manufacture electric vehicle batteries and solar panels.
“Americans are so opposed to expensive, unreliable, ‘green’ energy solutions – that President Biden must invoke the DPA to get companies to produce solar panels and electric vehicles,” Perry said. “Exploiting the DPA to flood the market with cars that don’t work in the cold and energy sources that don’t work in the shade does nothing to help the American People and our businesses – let alone national security.”
The DPA was established during the Korean War to provide the federal government with the power to protect American security and well-being during times of crisis. Historically, the DPA has been used in cases of emergency or immediate threats to human life, Perry’s office said.
In 2022, Biden invoked the DPA to drive the production electric vehicle batteries, and to drive the processing of critical minerals for them. In 2023, Biden used the DPA to subsidize the production of renewable energy components and electric alternatives. Biden has signaled that more DPA mandates are expected for 2024.
Perry said his legislation would ensure the President cannot use the DPA to further the cause of electric vehicles, and that the DPA cannot be used to spend billions on “green” energy projects.
The bills would return the DPA to a truly defense-focused bill and stop the President from abusing the powers granted by the DPA, Perry said.