H.R. 1167: Keep China Out of Solar Energy Act of 2025
Sponsor
Carlos Gimenez
Republican · FL-28
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Feb 10, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Why it matters
The bill would force the federal government to stop buying certain Chinese-linked solar panels on a fast timeline, with key rules due within 180 days of enactment.
HR1167, the Keep China Out of Solar Energy Act of 2025, is a procurement crackdown aimed at federal solar purchases. It says federal funds cannot be used through a contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant to buy solar panels made or assembled by a "covered entity." It also bars the use of Government-issued purchase cards for those purchases. The bill defines "solar panel" narrowly as crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules.
The bill moves quickly. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, working with the Administrator of General Services, must develop standards and guidelines within 180 days after enactment. On the same 180-day deadline, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council must amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to put the ban into effect across federal procurement.
The definition of who is covered is broad and important. A "covered entity" is any entity domiciled in the People's Republic of China or subject to influence or control by the Government of the People Republic of China or the Communist Party of the People's Republic of China, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security. That means the practical reach of the bill depends heavily on Homeland Security's determinations, not just on where a company is headquartered.
There is an escape valve, but it is narrow. An executive agency head can seek a waiver only by certifying to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security that the covered entity is the "only viable source" for the solar panels, and both secretaries must jointly approve it. Oversight is built in: agency heads must notify OMB of waiver requests, OMB must send quarterly reports to five named congressional committees, the Comptroller General must report to Congress within 275 days after enactment on how many solar panels federal agencies bought from covered entities, and within one year OMB must try to contract with a federally funded research and development center to study the domestic market, technology pace, and the global supply chain and workforce for solar panel production, then send that study to Congress within 30 days of receiving it.
What does H.R. 1167 do?
180-day deadline for federal solar ban rules
Not later than 180 days after enactment, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the Administrator of General Services, must develop standards and guidelines to block Federal funds from being used to procure solar panels manufactured or assembled by a covered entity.
Ban covers contracts, grants, and purchase cards
The bill prohibits the use of Federal funds through a contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant to buy covered solar panels, and it separately prohibits Government-issued purchase cards from being used for the same purpose.
FAR must be amended within 180 days
The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council must amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation not later than 180 days after enactment so the procurement ban becomes part of standard federal purchasing rules.
Waiver allowed only for 'only viable source'
The head of an executive agency may seek a waiver only by certifying to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security that a covered entity is the "only viable source" for the solar panels, and the waiver must be jointly approved by both secretaries.
Quarterly waiver reports to 5 committees
Agency heads must notify the Director of OMB of waiver requests, and OMB must submit a quarterly report to five congressional committees: in the Senate, Foreign Relations and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; in the House, Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, and Oversight and Government Reform.
275-day audit and 1-year market study
Not later than 275 days after enactment, the Comptroller General must report to Congress on the amount of solar panels federal departments and agencies procured from covered entities. Separately, not later than one year after enactment, OMB must seek a contract with a federally funded research and development center to study domestic solar panel production, technology progress, and the global supply chain and workforce, then submit the study to Congress within 30 days of receiving it.
Who benefits from H.R. 1167?
U.S. solar panel manufacturers
Domestic producers of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules could gain federal business because the bill blocks federal contracts, subcontracts, grants, subgrants, and purchase-card purchases from covered entities tied to the People's Republic of China.
Federal oversight bodies and Congress
Congress gets more visibility through quarterly OMB waiver reports to five specific committees and a Comptroller General report due within 275 days after enactment on how much federal purchasing came from covered entities.
U.S. national security agencies
The Secretary of Homeland Security gets a central role in deciding which firms count as covered entities and must jointly approve any waiver with the Secretary of State, giving security agencies direct influence over federal solar sourcing.
Research institutions such as FFRDCs
A federally funded research and development center could receive a federal contract because OMB must seek to enter into one not later than one year after enactment for a study on domestic production, technology, and the global supply chain workforce.
Who is affected by H.R. 1167?
Chinese-domiciled or Chinese-influenced solar companies
Any entity domiciled in the People's Republic of China or subject to influence or control by the Government of the People Republic of China or the Communist Party of the People's Republic of China, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security, would be shut out of covered federal solar purchases.
Federal agencies buying solar equipment
Executive agencies, using the meaning from section 133 of title 41, United States Code, would have to change purchasing practices within the 180-day implementation window and could buy from a covered entity only through a jointly approved waiver.
Federal contractors and grant recipients
Companies and organizations using federal money through contracts, subcontracts, grants, or subgrants would be barred from procuring covered solar panels, so compliance duties would extend beyond direct federal buyers.
Programs relying on low-cost imported solar panels
Federal projects that currently depend on lower-cost or readily available panels from Chinese-linked suppliers may face delays or sourcing challenges, especially if agencies cannot prove a covered entity is the "only viable source" and secure approval from both the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security.
H.R. 1167 Common Questions
How long would agencies have to stop buying Chinese-linked solar panels under HR1167?
Under the Keep China Out of Solar Energy Act of 2025, OMB and GSA must issue standards within 180 days, and the FAR must also be updated within 180 days to enforce the ban (SEC. 2).
Can federal grants be used to buy solar panels from Chinese-controlled companies?
No. Under the Keep China Out of Solar Energy Act of 2025 (SEC. 2), Federal funds may not be used through a contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant to procure covered solar panels.
Does HR1167 ban government purchase cards from buying certain solar panels?
Yes. According to HR1167 Section 2, Government-issued purchase cards cannot be used to buy solar panels manufactured or assembled by a covered entity.
What counts as a covered entity under the Keep China Out of Solar Energy Act?
Under the Keep China Out of Solar Energy Act of 2025 (SEC. 6), a covered entity is one domiciled in China or subject to influence or control by the Chinese government or Communist Party, as determined by DHS.
Can an agency get a waiver to buy banned solar panels if there is no other supplier?
Yes, but only if the agency head certifies the covered entity is the only viable source and both the Secretary of State and Secretary of Homeland Security jointly approve the waiver under HR1167 Section 3.
How soon would Congress get an audit of federal purchases from covered solar companies?
Under the Keep China Out of Solar Energy Act of 2025 (SEC. 4), the Comptroller General must report to Congress within 275 days on the amount of solar panels agencies bought from covered entities.
Does HR1167 require a study of the U.S. solar manufacturing market?
Yes. Under HR1167 Section 5, OMB must seek a contract within 1 year with a federally funded research and development center to study domestic production, technology pace, and the global supply chain and workforce.
What types of solar panels are covered by the federal China procurement ban?
Under the Keep China Out of Solar Energy Act of 2025 (SEC. 6), the term solar panel means crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and modules.
Which congressional committees would get quarterly reports on solar panel waivers?
According to HR1167 Section 3, OMB must report quarterly to Senate Foreign Relations, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, House Foreign Affairs, House Homeland Security, and House Oversight and Government Reform.
How fast would OMB have to send the solar market study to Congress?
According to HR1167 Section 5, OMB must submit the study to Congress within 30 days after receiving it from the research center.
Based on H.R. 1167 bill text
HR1167 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Feb 10, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
About the Sponsor
Carlos Gimenez
Republican, Florida's 28th congressional district · 5 years in Congress
Committees: Homeland Security, House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, Armed Services
View full profile →
Cosponsors (1)
This bill has 1 cosponsor: 1 Republican. Cosponsors represent 1 state: Florida.
Committee Sponsors
Oversight and Government Reform Committee
0 of 46 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
25 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 1167 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Oversight and Government Reform
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Government Operations and Politics
- Introduced
- Feb 10, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Feb 10, 2025
Official Sources
Official bill page with the text, status, sponsors, and related actions for the Keep China Out of Solar Energy Act of 2025.
The bill requires the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to amend the FAR within 180 days to implement the procurement ban.
The bill separately prohibits use of Government-issued purchase cards for covered solar panel purchases, making the federal charge card program relevant.
OMB is tasked with developing standards and guidelines, receiving waiver notifications, and sending quarterly reports and the market study to Congress.
DHS is central to the bill because the Secretary of Homeland Security determines whether an entity is covered and must jointly approve waivers.
The Secretary of State must jointly approve any waiver when an agency claims a covered entity is the only viable source.
The bill directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress within 275 days on federal procurement of solar panels from covered entities.
Section 6 of the bill incorporates the statutory definition of 'executive agency' from 41 U.S.C. 133.
The bill’s required market study focuses on domestic solar panel production, technology progress, and supply chains, areas covered by DOE's solar office.
H.R. 1167 Bill Text
“To prohibit the procurement of solar panels manufactured or assembled in the People’s Republic of China.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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