Katie Sweeney, Executive Vice President of the National Mining Association (NMA), emphasized the importance of prioritizing domestic mining and processing in the United States to meet increasing mineral demand and reduce dependency on foreign sources. Her statement was made during testimony.
"America's mining industry supplies the essential materials necessary for nearly every sector of our economy," said Katie Swerney, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. "Demand for minerals and derivative products is expected to increase dramatically. The U.S. continues to be 100 percent import reliant for 15 minerals. There can be no mineral and supply chain security, no meeting the enormous mineral demand at our doorstep without fundamental recognition that we need more domestic mining and processing."
According to testimony from the NMA submitted to the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce in May 2025, the United States imports more than half of the minerals it considers critical for economic and national security. The testimony highlighted that minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and manganese are essential for supply chains supporting U.S. manufacturing and clean energy technologies. The NMA's statement detailed the current structure of critical mineral sourcing and noted ongoing discussions regarding domestic mining, permitting, and investment.
The U.S. Geological Survey’s Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024 reported that in 2023, the United States was entirely reliant on imports for 15 nonfuel mineral commodities, including graphite, manganese, and rare earth elements. The report also indicated that over 50 percent of apparent consumption for 51 nonfuel mineral commodities depended on imports. This high level of import dependence highlights vulnerabilities in the nation's critical mineral supply chains.
The International Energy Agency’s Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2024 said that China refines a significant portion of global cobalt (73 percent), nickel (68 percent), lithium (59 percent), and controls 85 percent of rare earth element processing capacity worldwide. The IEA reported that China's dominance in critical mineral supply chains has increased substantially since 1990 due to state-backed investments and industrial policy. This concentration provides China with considerable leverage over global supply and pricing of these essential resources.
Sweeney serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the NMA, overseeing policy, legal, and strategic initiatives affecting the U.S. mining sector. She has been with the organization since 1996 and previously served as its General Counsel with expertise in environmental law and federal permitting. Her leadership has played a pivotal role in advancing mining policy before Congress and federal agencies.
