Young, Shaheen Tout Endorsements for the SECURE Minerals Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced legislation to support domestic supply chains for critical minerals to meet national and economic security needs through the creation of a new Strategic Resilience Reserve (SRR).

The legislation is supported by the following organizations: The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, American Critical Minerals Association, Arizona State University, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Breakthrough Institute, Center for Public Enterprise, Employ America, Foundation for American Innovation, Institute for Progress, Jervois USA, New American Industrial Alliance, TechMet, and Zeno Power.

"Sens. Shaheen and Young understand reliable access to critical minerals is key to a healthy and competitive auto industry in America. The SECURE Minerals Act's new Strategic Resilience Reserve can support secure and accessible critical mineral supply chains, and lessen reliance on China while strengthening American innovation, manufacturing and jobs, and national security," said John Bozzella, President and CEO, Alliance for Automotive Innovation.

"The American Critical Minerals Association (ACMA) is excited to see the bipartisan, bicameral introduction of the Securing Essential and Critical U.S. Resources and Elements (SECURE) Minerals Act, led by Senators Shaheen, Young, Cortez Masto, and Rounds, alongside Representatives Wittman and Moolenaar. For several years, ACMA and its members have called for federal policy to derisk investments in the critical minerals sector. Alongside permitting reform, workforce development and common-sense tax policies, a strategic resilient reserve will act as an engine of growth for domestic and allied investments in securing the materials supply chain that drives our economy. This bill is a meaningful step in countering China's monopoly over global markets. It will help catalyze investment as well as support long-term predictability and price transparency for U.S. critical minerals producers, processors, and consumers. ACMA applauds the introduction of this bill and looks forward to engaging with Congress on this effort," said Sarah Venuto, Executive Director, American Critical Minerals Association.

"The SECURE Minerals Act reflects a clear understanding that economic security and national security are now deeply linked," said Arizona State University President and Chairman of the Board of In-Q-Tel, Michael Crow. "Securing a reliable, domestic supply of critical minerals is essential to protecting American industries, strengthening our workforce, and reducing dependence on concentrated global supply chains. This legislation positions the United States to compete, innovate, and build lasting partnerships with allies in areas vital to our future."

"China's dominance of the global critical minerals supply chain has created an unstable market that hinders domestic critical mineral projects. BPC Action applauds the introduction of the SECURE Minerals Act, which aims to combat price volatility, drive domestic investment in critical minerals, and strengthen American's mineral security," said Michele Stockwell, President, Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action).

"Critical minerals are key to American technological competitiveness and national defense and require a policy environment that supports innovation, protects the market from manipulation, and expands domestic production. A Strategic Resilience Reserve Corporation equipped with versatile financial instruments can maximize the efficiency of public sector support while promoting more open and transparent critical commodity markets," said Dr. Seaver Wang, Climate and Energy Director, Breakthrough Institute. "The SECURE Minerals Act is a crucial part of efforts to modernize and strengthen U.S. critical minerals policy, and will establish the market conditions America needs to compete with China across these vital supply chains."

"Throughout history, the United States has used the power of its balance sheet to support important sectors and industries of the economy, from housing to energy to transportation. With the growing innovation in the energy sector today, and increasing global pressures on critical minerals, a strategic resilience reserve to support our own domestic supply chain will help create price stability, not just for companies in the short run, but for consumers in the long run," said Paul Williams, Executive Director, Center for Public Enterprise.

"Employ America is pleased to endorse the SECURE Act, which establishes a strategic resilience reserve, a high priority for the organization since we first proposed it in 2023 and co-authored the proposal with Daleep Singh. We applaud the efforts of Senator Shaheen, Senator Young, Representative Wittman, and Representative Moolenaar towards legislative enactment. The bill would establish an independent government corporation that deploys a robust and varied toolkit for the development of independent, liquid, free, and competitive commodity markets, and thereby combat China's current market dominance in critical minerals and markets," said Employ America.

"Senator Shaheen, Senator Young, and Representative Wittman should be commended for their work on the SECURE Minerals Act. The bill's Strategic Resilience Reserve will effectively combat CCP market manipulation while building transparent, American-led critical minerals markets and supply chains. Lawmakers should expeditiously work to enact this important piece of legislation into law," said Pavan Venkatakrishnan, Policy Advisor, Foundation for American Innovation.

"China's rare earth dominance gives Beijing dangerous leverage over America's industrial base. The Institute for Progress (IFP) strongly endorses legislation to establish a Strategic Resilience Reserve - an independent entity with an expansive toolkit designed to build resilient critical mineral supply chains. Just as Operation Warp Speed proved the government can accelerate innovation through smart incentives, an SRR would support the development of a competitive critical minerals market to outcompete China's state-directed dominance and secure America's technological future," said The Institute for Progress.

"As the owner of America's only cobalt mine, built at a cost of over $150 million from 2021-23, but never operated, Jervois is case in point for the damage caused by Chinese manipulation of critical minerals markets. With mechanisms such as contracts for differences and advanced market commitments, the SECURE Minerals Act will be key to securing U.S. critical minerals supply chains," said Matthew Lengerich, President and Executive General Manager, Jervois USA.

"NAIA is proud to endorse the SECURE Minerals Act to establish a strategic resilience reserve for critical minerals. As the importance of critical minerals only continues to rise, it is essential that we use all tools, both public and private, to secure our supply chains. The SECURE Minerals Act enhances our national security and broader economic resilience," said New American Industrial Alliance.

"As a U.S. company developing nuclear batteries for national security and space missions, we know that secure and reliable supply chains, from critical minerals to strategic isotopes, are essential to American competitiveness in the 21st century," said Tyler Bernstein, CEO and Co-Founder, Zeno Power. "The SECURE Minerals Act provides domestic and allied critical mineral projects with long-term certainty, shifting leverage away from adversaries and toward U.S. and allied supply chains. It gives companies like ours confidence that we'll have access to the materials required to manufacture nuclear batteries, technology that's critical to America's ability to compete and lead in frontier environments."

Full text of the legislation can be found here. A one-pager for the legislation can be found here.