Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) introduced the Securing Essential and Critical U.S. Resources and Elements (SECURE) Minerals Act, legislation that will support domestic critical mineral supply chains and will further unleash American energy. The SECURE Minerals Act is co-led by Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar (MI-02). Companion legislation has been introduced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Todd Young (R-IN) in the United States Senate. 

“As a senior member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), I am acutely aware of how China’s dominance of critical mineral supply chains poses a grave threat to U.S. competitiveness and national security,” said Rep. Wittman. “By engaging in unfair trade practices and subsidizing mineral production, China artificially lowers the price of critical minerals, making it un-economic for companies to invest in domestic supply chains. I am proud to introduce the SECURE Minerals Act, which aims to stabilize mineral prices, re-shore manufacturing supply chains, and establish energy dominance.”

“China’s dominance of critical minerals gives it dangerous leverage over global supply chains, and it is one of America’s most pressing economic and national security vulnerabilities. The Strategic Resource Reserve created by this legislation will give the government the authorities it needs to stabilize the supply of critical minerals for us and our allies. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was created in 1975 in response to the Middle East oil embargo. In the face of a similar threat from China today, it makes sense to create the SRR, which will ensure the United States is never caught flat-footed by China’s supply-chain coercion,” said Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar.

China’s unfair subsidization of their critical mineral industry has exposed America’s vulnerability and put vital defense, energy, and healthcare supply chains at risk. To counter China’s growing threat of monopolization and weaponization of critical mineral supply chains, the SECURE Minerals Act would establish a Strategic Resilience Reserve. The Reserve would be responsible for insulating U.S. producers from price volatility, ultimately supporting domestic supply chains. 

The SECURE Minerals Act:

• Supports critical mineral markets and aggregates demand to provide greater certainty.

• Establishes a Strategic Resilience Reserve tasked with increasing America’s share of global critical mineral and material production.

• Re-shores manufacturing supply chains that are vital to our economic and national security.

• Counters China’s unfair trade practices.

The SECURE Minerals Act is endorsed by the American Critical Minerals Association, Employ America, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Arizona State University, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Breakthrough Institute, Center for Public Enterprise, Foundation for American Innovation, Institute for Progress, Jervois USA, New American Industrial Alliance, TechMet, and Zeno Power.

“The American Critical Minerals Association (ACMA) is excited to see the bipartisan, bicameral introduction of the Securing Essential and Critical U.S. Resources and Elements (SECURE) Minerals Act, led by Senators Shaheen, Young, Cortez Masto, and Rounds, alongside Representatives Wittman and Moolenaar.  For several years, ACMA and its members have called for federal policy to derisk investments in the critical minerals sector. Alongside permitting reform, workforce development and common-sense tax policies, a strategic resilient reserve will act as an engine of growth for domestic and allied investments in securing the materials supply chain that drives our economy.  This bill is a meaningful step in countering China’s monopoly over global markets.  It will help catalyze investment as well as support long-term predictability and price transparency for U.S. critical minerals producers, processors, and consumers.  ACMA applauds the introduction of this bill and looks forward to engaging with Congress on this effort.”  - Sarah Venuto, Executive Director, American Critical Minerals Association

"Employ America is pleased to endorse the SECURE Minerals Act, which establishes a Strategic Resilience Reserve, high priority for the organization since we first proposed it with Daleep Singh in February 2024. We applaud the efforts of Senator Young, Senator Shaheen, Representative Wittman, and Representative Moolenaar towards legislative enactment. The bill would establish an independent government corporation that deploys a robust and varied toolkit for the development of independent, liquid, free, and competitive commodity markets, and thereby combat China’s current market dominance in critical minerals and markets. The development of policy tools for commodity market stabilization has been a key programmatic vertical at Employ America for many years now, and a natural extension of our work on Strategic Petroleum Reserve Policy that featured public coverage throughout 2022 and 2023. We hope that today's milestone represents a stepping stone towards further bipartisan progress on this underrated but critical issue." - Employ America

“Sens. Shaheen and Young and Rep. Wittman understand reliable access to critical minerals is key to a healthy and competitive auto industry in America. The SECURE Minerals Act’s new Strategic Resilience Reserve can support secure and accessible critical mineral supply chains, and lessen reliance on China while strengthening American innovation, manufacturing and jobs, and national security.” - John Bozzella, President and CEO, Alliance for Automotive Innovation

“The SECURE Minerals Act reflects a clear understanding that economic security and national security are now deeply linked,” said Arizona State University President and Chairman of the Board of In-Q-Tel, Michael Crow. “Securing a reliable, domestic supply of critical minerals is essential to protecting American industries, strengthening our workforce, and reducing dependence on concentrated global supply chains. This legislation positions the United States to compete, innovate, and build lasting partnerships with allies in areas vital to our future.”

“China’s dominance of the global critical minerals supply chain has created an unstable market that hinders domestic critical mineral projects. BPC Action applauds the introduction of the SECURE Act, which aims to combat price volatility, drive domestic investment in critical minerals, and strengthen American’s mineral security,” says Michele Stockwell, President of Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action).

“Critical minerals are key to American technological competitiveness and national defense and require a policy environment that supports innovation, protects the market from manipulation, and expands domestic production. A Strategic Resilience Reserve Corporation equipped with versatile financial instruments can maximize the efficiency of public sector support while promoting more open and transparent critical commodity markets,” said Breakthrough Institute Climate and Energy Director Dr. Seaver Wang. "The SECURE Minerals Act is a crucial part of efforts to modernize and strengthen U.S. critical minerals policy, and will establish the market conditions America needs to compete with China across these vital supply chains."

“Throughout history, the United States has used the power of its balance sheet to support important sectors and industries of the economy, from housing to energy to transportation. With the growing innovation in the energy sector today, and increasing global pressures on critical minerals, a strategic resilience reserve to support our own domestic supply chain will help create price stability, not just for companies in the short run, but for consumers in the long run.” - Paul Williams, Executive Director, Center for Public Enterprise

"Senator Shaheen, Senator Young, and Representative Wittman should be commended for their work on the SECURE Minerals Act. The bill’s Strategic Resilience Reserve will effectively combat CCP market manipulation while building transparent, American-led critical minerals markets and supply chains. Lawmakers should expeditiously work to enact this important piece of legislation into law." - Pavan Venkatakrishnan, Policy Advisor at the Foundation for American Innovation

“China's rare earth dominance gives Beijing dangerous leverage over America’s industrial base. The Institute for Progress (IFP) strongly endorses legislation to establish a Strategic Resilience Reserve — an independent entity with an expansive toolkit designed to build resilient critical mineral supply chains. Just as Operation Warp Speed proved the government can accelerate innovation through smart incentives, an SRR would support the development of a competitive critical minerals market to outcompete China's state-directed dominance and secure America's technological future.” - Institute for Progress

“As the owner of America's only cobalt mine, built at a cost of over $150 million from 2021-23, but never operated, Jervois is case in point for the damage caused by Chinese manipulation of critical minerals markets. With mechanisms such as contract for differences and advanced market commitments, the SECURE Minerals Act will be key to securing U.S. critical minerals supply chains.” - Matthew Lengerich, President and Executive General Manager, Jervois USA

“NAIA is proud to endorse the SECURE Act to establish a strategic resilience reserve for critical minerals. As the importance of critical minerals only continues to rise, it is essential that we use all tools, both public and private, to secure our supply chains. The SECURE Act enhances our national security and broader economic resilience.” - New American Industrial Alliance