U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, have released a joint statement as the United States hosts a Critical Minerals Ministerial. The senators are calling on their colleagues to support legislation that would direct the U.S. government to collaborate with international partners in developing secure, reliable, and transparent supply chains for critical minerals by authorizing U.S. participation in the Minerals Security Partnership.
“It is unacceptable for America’s economic well-being and national security to be at the whim of China due to their overwhelming control of critical minerals supply chains. We welcome Secretary Rubio hosting a ministerial meeting to address this challenge and deepen partnerships with like-minded countries. The United States cannot solve the critical minerals challenge alone and we will be unable to counter PRC dominance over critical mineral supply chains without trusted allies and partners,” Curtis and Shaheen said in their statement.
The senators emphasized the need for Congress to pass their proposed legislation: “That is why we urge Congress to pass our legislation that would codify U.S. participation in the Minerals Security Partnership to better coordinate the mining, processing, and recycling of critical minerals. Our legislation provides a bipartisan signal that the United States Congress wants to work with its allies and partners in securing these strategic assets to protect our collective economic and national security.”
The issue of critical mineral supply chain security has gained attention as concerns grow about China’s significant influence over global supplies needed for technology, defense, and energy sectors.
