Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland had a discussion about it on Tuesday when Hawley brought up the fact that the Biden administration is pushing for electric cars, which need lithium batteries -ion. Hawley said the US reliance on an opponent for such electric vehicle components was concerning when a puzzled Haaland revealed she was unaware that China was the world’s largest producer of lithium and refined cobalt and the largest exporter of graphite to the United States.
We are becoming increasingly dependent on China, according to Hawley, because of your choice to sacrifice our energy security in favor of a radical climate change agenda. Furthermore, you are delaying, preventing and denying mining permits in this country that would allow us to develop nickel, copper and cobalt. For what? Why prevent our own country from developing these resources for the benefit of making us dependent on China?
Earlier this year, the Biden administration banned mining on 225,504 acres near Duluth, Minnesota. Haaland asked if Hawley was referring to Boundary Waters, which is close to the Twin Metals mine in northeast Minnesota and is an “iconic place, of course, a very valuable ecological system for many plants, animals and species.” .
Hawley said, “The jobs for blue-collar workers in our country are vital resources. “The livelihoods and general well-being of American families are precious resources. Being independent from China and having our own industry is an important resource for America. Why should such things be dropped in favor of your goal of extreme climate change, which would affect millions of Americans?
“Senator, I am aware that there are now 1.9 jobs for every American living in the country. I am aware that there are multiple jobs,” Haaland said.
“Wait a second. Wait a second. Wait a second. Are you telling me that there are too many jobs in this country?
Haaland said: “Well, I submit that we don’t have enough staff. As a result, it’s difficult for us to fill vacancies in our department.”
You say there are too many blue collar jobs, right? Hawley fired back. “Have you seen how many jobs we have lost to China over the past 20 years in our country? Do you know the source of those jobs? There are now over three million jobs in China. Do you have any idea where these positions come from communities in the Midwest like the ones I represent You’re sitting here telling me that there are too many jobs in this country even though Are these people blue collar? Are you kidding me?
Hawley said while the Biden administration was pursuing a dodgy environmental agenda, it was laying off blue-collar workers.
“I think the most, potentially – and it’s a pretty high bar, I might add – the most unbelievable statement I’ve heard from a member of this administration perhaps during my time in the Senate is to sacrifice American energy security in favor of your radical climate change agenda, shutting down good-paying jobs in our energy sector, and then saying we have a lot of jobs in this country,” Hawley said.