A pair of representatives in Congress are pushing for legislation that would have the U.S. State Department coordinate efforts to invest in critical rare earth mineral projects across the globe, and reduce the country's reliance on China.

Republican Rep. Young Kim, Democratic Rep. Ami Bera and Guam Congressional delegate James Moylan introduced the "Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) Authorization Act" in a July 15 release, detailing plans to support the development of "secure, resilient and sustainable" mineral supply chains for the U.S.

“Minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements are essential to powering our economy, clean energy future, and national defense,” said Bera, noting that China "currently holds a near-monopoly over many of these supply chains and has shown a willingness to weaponize that control."

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According to data from the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. imported 70% of its rare earth compounds and metals from China between 2020 and 2023, as well as 13% from Malaysia and 6% from Japan. Many of the compounds imported from the latter two countries were also derived from chemicals produced in China.

Under the MSP Act, the U.S. would coordinate with partner governments and financial institutions to make "responsible" investments in mineral supply chains at every stage, including extraction, processing and deployment in advanced technologies. The bill would also reduce the United States' reliance on authoritarian regimes for rare earth minerals, and create a "clean a domestic circular economy" that accounts for environmental regulations.