As prepared for delivery.

“Chairman Cole, Ranking Member McGovern, thank you for holding this hearing today. I am glad we are using the gathering today to spend some extended time together.

“As we sit here, China continues to cheat the United States through its predatory trade practices. Just this past December, the Commerce Department determined that China is circumventing U.S. tariffs by shipping solar products through Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

“These tariffs on solar imports from China have been in place since 2012 to provide a more level playing field for American manufacturers in the face of unfair subsidies and pricing by Chinese exporters. By circumventing them, China is cheating American workers and consumers.

“Unfortunately, ahead of the December determination by Commerce, the White House made a misguided decision to prevent additional tariffs on Chinese solar products routed through those four countries for two years. Those actions send the wrong message to our trading partners and competitors, and worse yet, they hurt American workers.

“We need more, not less, accountability for unfair trade practices that have given China a dominant position in solar production. It is all the more important given longstanding American innovation in this sector. American workers should enjoy the fruits of that innovation through expanded U.S. manufacturing and jobs, but unfair imports will prevent this from occurring.

“The bipartisan resolution before this committee today would reverse that decision. By advancing House Joint Resolution 39, Congressional Review Act Legislation on Solar Tariffs, we will be agreeing with the findings of the Department of Commerce and halt the implementation of the proclamation that has given a free pass to unfair solar imports from China.

“This resolution will help ensure the United States maintains crucial protections for American workers and our economy as a whole.

“I’m grateful that there is support on both sides of the aisle for this resolution, including Ways and Means Committee Members Dan Kildee of Michigan, Greg Murphy of North Carolina, Nicole Malliotakis of New York, Bill Pascrell of New Jersey, Terri Sewell of Alabama, and Claudia Tenney of New York.

“We are all deeply concerned about China’s behavior, and Congress must hold accountable bad actors.

“Thank you.”