Congressman Begich Applauds Passage of the Critical Mineral Dominance Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Feb. 4, 2026 - Today, Congressman Begich (R-AK) applauded the passage of H.R. 4090, the Critical Mineral Dominance Act, landmark legislation he proudly co-sponsored to strengthen America's national and economic security by unleashing domestic critical mineral production.

"There is a broad and growing recognition across the country that the United States must secure a reliable domestic supply of critical minerals and that starts with producing them here at home," said Congressman Begich. "For far too long, America has allowed burdensome regulations and regulatory uncertainty to push mining overseas, leaving us dangerously dependent on adversaries like China for the materials that power our economy and defend our nation. This is about national security. The Critical Mineral Dominance Act puts America first by unlocking our vast critical mineral resources and ending our dangerous supply chain dependence on adversarial nations."

BACKGROUND:

The Critical Mineral Dominance Act supports President Trump's decisive actions to restore American mineral dominance by codifying key Executive Orders and directing the Department of the Interior (DOI) to prioritize and streamline domestic mining on federal lands. The bill cuts through years of regulatory red tape, reverses Biden-era hostility toward responsible mining, and accelerates permitting for projects critical to U.S. supply chains.

Specifically, the Critical Mineral Dominance Act:

• Codifies multiple President Trump Executive Orders aimed at increasing American mineral production.
• Directs DOI to streamline permitting and expedite approvals for mining projects on federal lands.
• Expands geological mapping to identify previously unknown mineral deposits.
• Mandates annual reporting on U.S. reliance on imported minerals and the economic impacts of that dependence.

Congressman Begich serves on the House Committee on Natural Resources and has been a consistent advocate for responsible resource development that strengthens Alaska's economy and America's national security.

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