Congressman John Moolenaar Chairman of the Select Committee on the CCP | Official Website
The Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party's Critical Minerals Policy Working Group convened its fifth meeting this afternoon in Washington, D.C. The session, led by Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL), focused on addressing human capital gaps within the U.S. critical minerals supply chains, particularly workforce shortages and skills deficits.
During the meeting, opportunities to develop a skilled domestic workforce through education, training programs, and strategic partnerships with industry and academia were explored. Additionally, potential policy gaps related to workforce development were examined.
Experts providing testimony included Dr. Barbara Arnold from Penn State University, Dr. Elizabeth Holley from Colorado School of Mines, and Ms. Anna Fendley from United Steelworkers.
Rep. Wittman emphasized the importance of revitalizing interest in mining within the United States: “Even though we haven’t expressed as much interest in mining in the United States in years past, I think that has to change.”
Rep. Castor highlighted concerns regarding the aging mining workforce: “More than half the domestic mining workforce will be retired or replaced by 2029. That number stands in stark contrast to the total of just 327 degrees awarded in 2020 in mining and mineral engineering.”
Dr. Arnold noted historical shifts affecting U.S. mineral activity: “When Congress stopped funding the U.S. Bureau of Mines in 1996, we lost a centralized agency to coordinate US mineral activity. Our reliance on foreign sources of minerals accelerated and the numbers of U.S. mining schools have decreased.”
Dr. Holley stressed investment needs for future talent: “We need to invest in our talent pipeline to re-establish our mineral workforce as an essential component to our economic & security future.” She also pointed out that China graduates about 3,000 mining engineers annually compared to significantly fewer graduates in the U.S.
Ms. Fendley called for a comprehensive national strategy: “Any national mining strategy has to be about how we are going to have workers at all levels.”
