Bowling Green Today

Congressmen Brett Guthrie, Dan Newhouse, and Russ Fulcher have introduced the Securing America’s Midstream Critical Materials Processing Act. This legislation aims to establish a National Roadmap to bring domestic critical material processing facilities back to the United States and reduce permitting barriers.

“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,” said Congressman Guthrie.

“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. 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,” said Congressman Newhouse.

“Critical minerals are not only vital to America’s energy supply but also crucial for national security as they are key components 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,” said Congressman Fulcher.

The proposed act will create a Department of Energy-led National Roadmap focusing on reshoring domestic critical material processing industries. It includes an extensive review of both domestic and global markets for midstream critical material processing, anti-competitive practices by China, opportunities, barriers for reshoring industries, including collaboration with allied nations, as well as permitting challenges facing these industries.

Additionally, it mandates a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study aimed at improving federal permitting processes by assessing how current regulations impact costs on facilities, exploring ways EPA regulations affect investments, examining how federal collaboration could leverage expertise in critical material processing sectors, among other factors.