ADDRESSING THE THREAT TO THE DOMESTIC SUPPLY CHAIN FROM RELIANCE ON CRITICAL MINERALS FROM FOREIGN ADVERSARIES AND SUPPORTING THE DOMESTIC MINING AND PROCESSING INDUSTRIES--MESSAGE FROM THE...; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 170
(House of Representatives - September 30, 2020)
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From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ADDRESSING THE THREAT TO THE DOMESTIC SUPPLY CHAIN FROM RELIANCE ON
CRITICAL MINERALS FROM FOREIGN ADVERSARIES AND SUPPORTING THE DOMESTIC
MINING AND PROCESSING INDUSTRIES--MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES (H. DOC. NO. 116-155)
The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following message
from the President of the United States; which was read and, together
with the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs and ordered to be printed:
To the Congress of the United States:
Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C.
1601 et seq.), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby
report that I have issued an Executive Order declaring a national
emergency to deal with the threat posed by our Nation's undue reliance
on critical minerals, in processed or unprocessed form, from foreign
adversaries.
A strong America cannot be dependent on imports from foreign
adversaries for the critical minerals that are increasingly necessary
to maintain our economic and military strength in the 21st century.
Because of the national importance of reliable access to critical
minerals, I signed Executive Order 13817 of December 20, 2017 (A
Federal Strategy To Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical
Minerals), which required the Secretary of the Interior to identify
critical minerals and made it the policy of the Federal Government ``to
reduce the Nation's vulnerability to disruptions in the supply of
critical minerals.'' The critical minerals identified by the Secretary
of the Interior are necessary inputs for the products our military,
national infrastructure, and economy depend on the most. Our country
needs critical minerals to make airplanes, computers, cell phones,
electricity generation and transmission systems, and advanced
electronics.
Though these minerals are indispensable to our country, we presently
lack the capacity to produce them in processed form in the quantities
we need. American producers depend on foreign countries to supply and
process them. Whereas the United States recognizes the continued
importance of cooperation on supply chain issues with international
partners and allies, in many cases, the aggressive economic practices
of certain non-market foreign producers of critical minerals have
destroyed vital mining and manufacturing jobs in the United States. We
must reduce our vulnerability to adverse foreign government action,
natural disaster, or other supply disruptions. Our national security,
foreign policy, and economy require a consistent supply of each of
these minerals.
Using the authority vested in me by IEEPA, the Executive Order
requires the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the
Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of
Commerce, and the heads of other executive departments and agencies, as
appropriate, to investigate our Nation's undue reliance on critical
minerals, in processed or unprocessed form, from foreign adversaries.
Following this investigation, the Executive Order requires the
Secretary of the Interior to submit a report to the President
recommending additional executive action.
The Executive Order also declares that it is the policy of the United
States to protect and expand the domestic supply chain for minerals.
Specific executive department and agency heads, including the Secretary
of the Interior and the Secretary of Energy, are directed to take
various actions to protect and expand the domestic supply chain for
minerals, consistent with applicable law, such as the publication of
guidance, the revision of regulations, and the acceleration of the
issuance of permits.
I am enclosing a copy of the Executive Order I have issued.
Donald J. Trump.
The White House, September 30, 2020.
____________________