Ernst amendment would prohibit tax credits for EVs produced by child, slave labor

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) recently proposed an amendment to the U.S. Senate-approved Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 that would prevent taxpayer subsidies for electric vehicles (EVs) manufactured by forced labor.

“The price of buying a car has reached a record high and what is the Democrats’ answer? A tax break for wealthy coastal elites to buy electric vehicles produced with slave and child labor,” said Sen. Ernst, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “Without this measure in place, the Democrats’ bill will subsidize and incentivize forced labor. We shouldn’t be sacrificing a clean conscience in exchange for a cleaner car.” 

According to her staff, Sen. Ernst’s amendment would prohibit tax credits for EVs produced by or containing components produced by slave or child labor. 

Specifically, the amendment would prohibit the disbursement of the Clean Vehicle Credit for EVs containing parts from nations that are under investigation by the Biden administration for forced labor practices, the senator’s staff said.