WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representatives Chrissy Houlahan, Rob Wittman, Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Mike Waltz this week came together across party lines to introduce a groundbreaking legislative act, the Critical Minerals Security Act. The proposed law aims to gather extensive data on worldwide holdings and exchanges of critical minerals, vital for various industries, ranging from healthcare and defense to cleaner, cheaper energy solutions.
Critical minerals, also known as rare earth elements (REEs), are essential to U.S. economic health and national security. These scarce resources are integral to military equipment, telecommunications, and even emerging green technologies — sectors that currently depend heavily on foreign supply chains, especially from countries like China. The Act’s provisions could allow the U.S., our allies, and global businesses to effectively anticipate and counter possible threats from overseas, specifically those posed by foreign control of these valuable resource reserves.
“We need this information to empower U.S. companies and our allies to reduce reliance on foreign adversaries like China,” said Rep. Houlahan. The Act also outlines the Secretary of the Interior’s responsibility to create processes to assist U.S. firms in diversifying their critical minerals sources, a move aimed at protecting American interests in enhancing national security.
The Critical Minerals Security Act is a response to the growing concern over foreign — particularly Chinese — dominance over the supply of these critical minerals. Representative Wittman emphasized the cruciality of this Act, stating, “The United States cannot cede control of the world’s critical mineral supply to the Chinese Communist Party.”
The bipartisan Act doesn’t just aim to protect U.S. interests. It also looks to expand collaboration with allies and partners on critical minerals projects, domestically and abroad. “This legislation will help safeguard our economy, our environment, and our transition to net zero emissions,” stated Rep. Krishnamoorthi.
In addition to collecting comprehensive data, the Act serves another crucial purpose — it would require the Secretary of the Interior to assist U.S. entities wanting to divest stock in mining or mineral processing operations for critical minerals and REEs in a foreign country. The goal here is to prevent the takeover of these operations by ‘foreign entities of concern,’ usually implying countries that could potentially use control over these resources as leverage against the United States.
The Act is not without its detractors, however. Critics argue that the U.S. should focus more on building its mining and refining capacity rather than relying on secure supply chains. Yet, advocates counter that diversifying supply chains and building partnerships are just as crucial as domestic production, especially in a globalized economy.
“As we rapidly deploy cleaner, cheaper energy across America, we need to boost the production of critical minerals domestically and from friendly nations,” highlighted Rep. Kathy Castor, adding her voice to the bipartisan push for the Act. Also, Avery Ash, SVP Government Affairs, SAFE, acknowledges its vital role in providing an understanding of the complex critical minerals supply chain.
The Senate companion bill has a similarly diverse sponsor list, featuring Senators John Cornyn, Mark Warner, Angus King, Todd Young, and James Lankford.
The Critical Minerals Security Act represents a significant step towards securing a stable, domestic supply chain and reducing America’s vulnerability to geopolitical manipulation. The Act shows that when faced with a common threat, our political leaders can set aside their differences and work together to protect and promote American interests.
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