House Hearing on U.S. Dependence on Foreign Minerals, New Bill
On May 24, 2011, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee1 held a hearing to discuss the strategic and critical minerals policy of the U.S. and opportunities for improvement so that the U.S. can decrease its dependence on foreign mineral materials. According to Chairman Lamborn, steps taken by China to restrict exports of mineral commodities highlights the need for the U.S. to assess the state of the U.S. mineral policies and the opportunities to produce these and other strategic and critical minerals domestically.
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Highlights of the witness written testimony include:
- the governments of raw-material-importing nations should fight policies of exporting nations that restrict raw-material exports to the detriment of users of these materials and the USTR should ensure fair trade practices are enforced;
- previously introduced legislation which includes stockpiling provisions would not further restrict an already tight supply; and
- overreliance on imported minerals coupled with flat production in the U.S., places the U.S. at greater risk of supply disruptions in an increasingly minerals-competitive world.
Chairman Bill Would Require Gov’t Assessment of U.S. Mineral Resources
On May 26, 2011, Subcommittee Chairman Lamborn (R), Committee Member Hastings (R), and 20 bipartisan cosponsors introduced H.R. 2011, the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2011.
H.R. 2011 would (i) direct the Secretary of the Interior to coordinate a government wide assessment of U.S. mineral resources and availability to meet current and future strategic and critical mineral needs and assemble the report within 6 months; and (ii) require an annual progress report, beginning one year after the date of enactment of the Act for the following two years, outlining the progress made in reaching the policy goals described in the bill.
June 3 Hearing on Two Rare Earth Minerals Bills
On June 3, 2011, the Subcommittee will hold a hearing on H.R. 2011 and another bill, H.R. 1314, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a global rare earth element assessment, and for other purposes.
1Subcommittee on Energy and Minerals Resources
See ITT’s Online Archives or 05/27/11 news, 11052701, for BP summary of CRS report on U.S. dependence on China for rare earths.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 04/26/11 news, 11042618, for BP summary on China’s raising of the mandatory quota on rare metal production.
See ITT”s Online Archives or 03/11/11 news, 11031102, for BP summary on a request by 28 Representatives that the USTR file a WTO complaint against China’s rare earths policy.)
Hearing statements, archived webcast, etc. available here
Press release on H.R. 2011 available here
Hearing announcement available here