A diverse coalition of companies and organizations, representing a broad spectrum of America’s economy, has delivered a letter to Capitol Hill that urges U.S. lawmakers to send critical minerals legislation to President Barack Obama for his signature.
Spearheaded by Minerals Make Life, an initiative of the National Mining Association, the coalition letter is supported by 38 signatories representing interests from the defense, energy, transportation, infrastructure, agriculture, technology, academic, electronics, finance, and medical sectors. This coalition wrote that they want to see critical minerals legislation move forward and that they “stand ready to help make it happen.”
“As manufacturers, researchers, consumers, and developers of goods and services that rely upon critical minerals,” the letter stated, “we write to express our appreciation for progress made on critical minerals legislation, to encourage further advancement, and to offer our support for any related efforts.”
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, welcomed the new and renewed support for the passage of critical minerals legislation.
“This letter puts nearly 40 groups and organizations on record as supporting not just their members, but our nation’s security, competitiveness, and future growth,” Murkowski said in a July 9 statement. “I thank them for their support and commend their continued engagement on this issue. I also agree with them. This is the perfect time to update our nation’s mineral policies. We have bipartisan and cost-neutral legislation that is ready to be considered. We have no reason to wait, or to forgo the tremendous benefits that critical minerals legislation would provide throughout our economy.”
Murkowski, the top Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is the primary author of critical minerals legislation in the Senate. Her bipartisan bill, the Critical Minerals Policy Act (S. 1600), would address the entire supply chain by establishing a criticality index, reforming the broken federal permitting process, prioritizing work force development, and promoting alternatives and recycling. Some 18 senators – 10 Democrats and eight Republicans – are co-sponsors.
Next steps on critical minerals legislation will need to come in the Senate, as the House of Representatives already passed a bill on this subject. Sponsored by Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.), the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act (H.R. 761) passed the House nearly one year ago through a bipartisan vote of 246-178.
“Now is an opportune moment to advance policies that benefit vast swaths of the American economy and enjoy broad support,” the coalition of 38 wrote in their letter of support. “A great deal of time and effort has been devoted to the advancement of critical minerals legislation, a strong record has been built reflecting the urgency of this challenge, and the time has come to take next steps. We remain hopeful that critical minerals legislation can be signed into law soon and stand ready to help make it happen.”
