WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Zero Emission Transportation Association’s Executive Director, Albert Gore, issued the following statement in response to release of the Senate Finance Committee’s reconciliation bill text: 

“For months, our coalition of American-made electric vehicle and battery supply chain manufacturers representing 240,000 domestic, good-paying jobs have worked with Republicans to find common ground on tax and manufacturing policy that will ensure the U.S. remains globally competitive in a world shifting toward new vehicle powertrains. The Senate Finance Committee reconciliation bill text makes some necessary improvements from the House version, and we appreciate the efforts of several Senators to make that happen. However, the policies taken together still fall significantly short of giving companies committed to American manufacturing the tools they need to compete against China. 

“Specifically, complex new rules and early sunsets introduced into the 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit will constrain the economic growth underway in the domestic battery and mineral industries. Coupled with the elimination of consumer and commercial clean vehicle credits and an uncertain tariff outlook, these wholesale policy changes will significantly harm our country’s ability to attract investment in battery production and scale domestic critical mineral development and processing that is crucial to a globally competitive industry. 

“We will continue to work with Members of Congress in both chambers to further improve this bill text and its ability to give American workers the backing they need to keep delivering a domestic supply chain. It’s clear that EVs will play a central role in the future of the auto industry. If we want to dominate this worldwide market, we cannot retreat now.”