Senator Gary Peters reintroduces legislation to establish the Critical Minerals Task Force and move the country’s critical mineral supply chain away from foreign adversaries.
Earlier this week Senator Gary Peters reintroduced his bipartisan legislation to aims to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign critical mineral resources from such regions as China. The legislation, introduced in the 118th Congress, was heard twice in committee but did not move further before the end of the recent session. Critical minerals such as copper and nickel are essential for the production of electric vehicles, military equipment, and other crucial technologies to the country’s global competitiveness and security.
Senator Peters says moving the country’s critical mineral supply chain away from foreign adversaries will require coordination from federal state and local governments to develop unified approaches that produce and recycle critical minerals at home, creating jobs and vital economic activity and security. The Intergovernmental Critical Minerals Taskforce Act will have the president create a board of appointed representatives from federal agencies that must consult with state, local, and tribal governments to determine how to address national security risks associated with critical mineral supply chains and identify domestic opportunities for mining, processing refinement, reuse, and recycling of material.
The bill has earned endorsement from private sector and conservation leaders including the Sierra Club and General Motors, Ford, and the American Automotive Policy Council.
