Stefanik, Mannion, Bipartisan New York Delegation Urge Domestic Gallium Production at Air Force Research Lab in Rome, NY

WASHINGTON, D.C. - New York Representatives Elise Stefanik (NY-21), John Mannion (NY-22), Joseph Morelle (NY-25), Nick Langworthy (NY-23), Tim Kennedy (NY-26), Mike Lawler (NY-17), and Claudia Tenney (NY-24) sent a bipartisan letter to Michael Cadenazzi, the Pentagon's Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy, urging the Department of War to partner with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in Rome, NY to invest in a domestic source of gallium-a rare earth mineral critical to U.S. national security and advanced technologies.

"We are concerned by the United States' dependence on foreign sources for gallium, particularly China, which currently holds a 98 percent share of the global supply and has imposed an export ban on shipments to the United States. This monopoly presents a significant supply chain vulnerability with implications for defense readiness and technological competitiveness, especially as geopolitical tensions increase. It is essential for U.S. national security that we support domestic advanced materials science research on the gallium extraction process and establish a secure and resilient domestic gallium supply chain here in the U.S. capable of meeting projected demand," the lawmakers wrote.

Last month, Stefanik, a senior Member of the House Armed Services Committee, successfully delivered $541.8 million in defense wins, including $329.8 million for Rome's AFRL.

Read the letter HERE.

Permalink: https://stefanik.house.gov/2026/2/stefanik-mannion-bipartisan-new-york-delegation-urge-domestic-gallium-production-at-air-force-research-lab-in-rome-ny