Yakima Times

On September 27, 2024, Representative Dan Newhouse (WA-04), along with Representatives Brett Guthrie (KY-02) and Russ Fulcher (ID-01), introduced the Securing America’s Midstream Critical Materials Processing Act. The bill aims to establish a National Roadmap to bring domestic critical material processing facilities back to the United States, reducing reliance on foreign adversaries such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and addressing permitting barriers.

“It is no secret the United States is in a dangerous position with our reliance on adversaries like the CCP for the critical minerals we use in everything from our energy sector to our defense industrial base,” said Rep. Newhouse. He added, “This bill is a big step towards bringing critical mineral processing back to our shores and keeping bad actors out of our supply chains. As a member of the House Select Committee on the CCP, I know we as lawmakers need to be doing all we can to prioritize national security before it is too late.”

Rep. Guthrie expressed his support by stating, “Today I was proud to introduce the Securing America’s Midstream Critical Materials Processing Act alongside Congressmen Newhouse and Fulcher to help ensure America has control over its manufacturing and energy future. For too long our nation has been reliant on the CCP and other foreign adversaries for the essential facilities to process critical materials into usable resources for our manufacturing industry. This bill will help provide a pathway to reshoring the processing of critical materials and uncovers the extent to which the CCP has exploited this supply chain. If our nation is to become energy independent once again, secure our supply chains, and reshore job creating industries then we must produce and process our critical materials here at home, I am proud to be leading this bill that will help accomplish this.”

Rep. Fulcher also highlighted the importance of securing critical minerals for national security: “Critical minerals are not only vital to America’s energy supply but to our national security as they are a key component for defense technologies and weaponry. I am proud to introduce this bill alongside Congressman Guthrie and Newhouse to establish a national roadmap to bring the development and processing of key minerals back to the USA. Securing America’s energy independence starts with securing our critical minerals supply chain.”

The proposed legislation mandates that the Department of Energy lead a National Roadmap initiative focusing on reshoring domestic critical material processing industries. This initiative will include an extensive review of:

- The current landscape of domestic and global markets for midstream critical material processing.

- The extent of anti-competitive practices employed by China and other adversaries in manipulating critical material markets.

- Opportunities and barriers associated with reshoring domestic industries while collaborating with allied nations.

- Permitting challenges facing domestic critical material processing industries.

Additionally, the bill requires a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study aimed at improving federal permitting processes to encourage more investment by examining:

- How the Inflation Reduction Act may have influenced Chinese greenfield investment in Free Trade Agreement countries.

- The impact of EPA regulations and litigation on facility costs.

- Methods for enhancing federal collaboration and coordination leveraging expertise in critical material processing.

The full text of the bill can be accessed here.

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