Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) slammed Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a House hearing Wednesday, saying the Biden administration is attempting to "kill the auto industry" with electric vehicles.
Perry, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, grilled Buttigieg on taxpayer-funded subsidies for EVs, which he called "anti-market policies."
OKLAHOMA SUPERINTENDENT SAYS BIDEN WANTS TO TURN STUDENTS INTO 'SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIORS'
"Your administration, and you in particular, kill the auto industry," Perry said, demanding that Buttiegieg and the administration pledge not to bail out the auto industry "after you force it into bankruptcy again."
In 2009, the Obama administration bailed out General Motors and Chrysler, which were on the brink of bankruptcy and the loss of 1.5 million jobs. While critics at the time blamed practices in the auto industry for their failure, Perry said this time it would be government-induced bankruptcy by forcing the industry to make a product people do not want.
In light of the United Auto Workers union strike, the Pennsylvania Republican pointed out that the subsidies are "killing their jobs." Perry quoted UAW President Shawn Fain, who said of a June $9.2 billion federal loan to Ford Motor Company that "not only is the federal government not using its power to turn the tide — they’re actively funding the race to the bottom with billions in public money."
Buttigieg recently moved to Michigan, the epicenter of the UAW strike and America's auto industry, though he resides well north of the automakers' headquarters.
Perry noted the companies are making EVs at a loss, with Ford set to lose $4.5 billion this year in the sector, more than double last year's $2.1 billion loss. Ford is otherwise profitable.
"I don't know how you justify forcing my constituents to pay for EVs and EV infrastructure for coastal elites and wealthy people, but somehow, you do," he said, pointing to average EV prices of about $50,000 and average EV owner household income of over $100,000 per year.
Buttigieg replied that the number is going down and noted earlier in the committee hearing that some EV models start at about $30,000 for sedans.
"There are some people who I suppose believe there should be no subsidies for anything involving transportation, and I assume in the spirit of philosophical consistency, they would be against subsidizing oil and gas, as well as being against subsidizing Americans being able to afford an EV," Buttigieg said in response. "There's others who believe that we should force Americans to be in the technology of the past forever. And then there's this administration, recognizes that the world is moving to EVs, with or without us, and those EVs are either going to be made by Chinese workers or they're going to be made by American workers."
The transportation secretary was grilled by Republicans on EVs for much of the hearing, with some, such as Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN), highlighting the lack of reliability and safety concerns of EVs, especially in cold weather.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Stauber said that half of the country experiences average winter temperatures that are below freezing, and Buttigieg admitted that a significant portion of an EV's battery life drops in cold weather. He noted that it takes only 30 minutes for frostbite to settle in.
The Minnesota Republican also pointed out the mining moratorium the Biden administration has put on critical mineral extraction in the United States, choosing the "child slave labor" of Congo and China over Michigan's Upper Peninsula and northeastern Minnesota.