The Senate Western Caucus recently made a statement on social media about the need for the United States to become more self-reliant in the critical minerals industry. The caucus argued that with appropriate policies, the U.S. possesses the capacity to produce these crucial minerals domestically.
"America does not have to rely on China for the majority of critical minerals," said Western Caucus, according to X. "We have the resources beneath our feet to become a mining powerhouse, but none of that matters until we reform the federal permitting process so it does not take 20 years to break ground."
Comprising 28 Republican Senators, the Senate Western Caucus is chaired by Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), with Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Ark.) serving as vice chair, according to information available on its official website.
Screenshot of post on X
| https://twitter.com/SenWestCaucus/status/1762555448165904867
As reported by the Federal Newswire, there has been considerable discussion about U.S. control over critical minerals production. Ellen R. Wald, a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center, urged America to address its increasing demand for lithium, a key component in electric vehicles and batteries. Wald suggested amendments to existing policies such as the Inflation Reduction Act could facilitate vital mineral supply chain development and decrease reliance on Chinese minerals. She stressed the importance of independent supply chains for these critical minerals due to concerns about national security and China's dominance in the lithium industry. Wald also criticized China's anti-competitive practices and warned of potential implications for the U.S. military.
Eric Sundby, CEO of TerraSpace, shared his views on America's potential to exploit space's abundance of critical minerals while expressing apprehension about China's efforts to seize this opportunity, as per Federal Newswire reports. Sundby pointed out initiatives like those from the International Lunar Research Station Organization as evidence of China's proactive approach in this field. Echoing Sundby's sentiments was U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, who emphasized America's lagging position in the space race compared to rivals like China and Russia. Sundby underlined that burgeoning technologies such as electric vehicles were driving demand for these minerals and advocated for innovative approaches and government support for private sector initiatives to secure the mineral supply chain.
ForeignPolicy.com highlighted that the U.S. military complex, which is heavily reliant on critical minerals, is largely controlled by China. These minerals are not only essential for energy transition but also crucial for national security, with applications spanning from clean energy technologies to advanced weaponry.
