Dems warn budget bill would undercut mineral production
House Republicans trying to highlight the nation's overreliance on China for critical minerals clashed with Democrats fuming over efforts to phase down or eliminate renewable energy incentives.
In response to concerns about the U.S. lagging behind other countries on mining and processing, Democrats said the GOP's tax, energy and border security megabill would make things worse.
'So much of the progress that we've made over the past two administrations is being sabotaged right now,' said Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) said during an Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing. Castor co-chaired a Critical Mineral Policy Working Group and helped craft bipartisan legislation during the past Congress.
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The budget reconciliation bill would roll back spending and energy incentives from the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act, including tax credits for wind, solar and domestic manufacturing.
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Black America Web
14 minutes ago
- Black America Web
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Fox News
35 minutes ago
- Fox News
'Baby steps': Leader Thune details his work to corral Republicans behind Trump's legislative vision
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CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP However, he countered that Senate Republicans planned to take a page from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., when Democrats rammed former President Joe Biden's agenda through Congress. "The Democrats with the [Inflation Reduction Act] and [American Rescue Plan Act], for that matter, they dramatically expanded the scope of reconciliation and what's eligible for consideration," he said. "So, we've used that template, and we're pushing as hard as we can to make sure that it allows us to accomplish our agenda, or at least as much of our agenda as possible, and fit within the parameters of what's allowed," he continued. Print Close URL
Politico
an hour ago
- Politico
Senate parliamentarian greenlights state AI law freeze in GOP megabill
The Senate's rules referee late Saturday allowed Republicans to include in their megabill a 10-year moratorium on enforcing state and local artificial intelligence laws — a surprising result for the provision that's split the GOP. Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) rewrote a House-passed AI moratorium to try to comply with the chamber's budgetary rules. His version made upholding the moratorium a condition for receiving billions in federal broadband expansion funds. Both parties made their arguments before the parliamentarian Thursday. 'It's good policy,' Cruz said of the moratorium in a recent interview. Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) has also defended the provision, saying it's necessary to avoid a 'labyrinth of regulation' with '50 different states going 50 different directions on the topic of AI regulation.' Though the parliamentarian delivered a victory for Republicans, a number of conservative senators including Sens. Josh Hawley (Mo.) and Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), have vocally opposed the provision. Hawley has vowed to work with Democrats on an amendment to remove the language once the megabill hits the floor. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and the House Freedom Caucus have also opposed the AI moratorium, with Greene threatening to oppose the megabill H.R. 1 (119) if the legal freeze remains.
