U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today highlighted the importance of critical mineral mining to Montana and to our national security during an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing.
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“We talk in this committee a lot about reducing our dependence and our allies’ dependence on Russia and other countries for oil and natural gas, but I believe we are not focusing enough on our dependence on critical minerals. I gave the examples of my phone and energy storage, but this also effects our defense infrastructure. Missile defense, aircraft, communications technology and even ammunition all contain these critical minerals. It is important that we do not have to rely on Russia and China for materials when we can produce them here in the U.S. including Montana.”
Background:
Senator Daines supported the Energy and Natural Resources Act, which includes several policy changes important to expanding critical mineral mining, including permitting policy improvements, resource assessments, and efficiency reforms.
Senator Daines cosponsored an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, that would expedite permitting and increase coordination for critical mineral development.
Senator Daines, while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced, H.R. 761, the National Strategic and Critical Mineral Production Act of 2013, which also included numerous efforts to expedite critical mining.