Sens. Tim Scott and Raphael Warnock introduce legislation to strengthen U.S. critical minerals supply chain

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) today introduced the Critical Mineral Executive Coordination Act, which aims to strengthen the United States' ability to address vulnerabilities in global critical mineral supply chains by improving diplomatic training and executive branch coordination. Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and John Curtis (R-Utah) joined in introducing the bill. With China controlling a majority of rare earth minerals, this legislation would support a more comprehensive critical minerals strategy and bolster U.S. economic and national security interests.

"Critical minerals are the building blocks for advanced technology. From powering our cellphones to our nation's most advanced weapons systems, they are essential to America's national security," said Sen. Scott. "The Critical Mineral Executive Coordination Act supports our efforts to safeguard access to critical minerals, bolstering our national defense, energy security, and economic competitiveness. America's future should be driven by American strength, and this bill helps make sure the U.S. - not China - leads the way."

"Georgia's transformative contributions to national defense and technological advancement call for streamlined access to global critical mineral markets," said Sen. Rev. Warnock. "This bipartisan bill addresses alarming vulnerabilities by educating our federal workers and diplomats on the importance of securing our nation's critical mineral supply chains and how to better support our domestic industries."

"We need critical minerals to build chips for everything from our smartphones to our national defense apparatus. The U.S. must not cede control of global critical mineral supply chains to China," said Sen. Kaine. "That is why I'm glad to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation to establish a dedicated executive branch critical minerals czar and marshal our diplomatic corps' expertise in this area. This commonsense and overdue step is crucial to our national security and retaining our technological edge, and I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers to support this legislation."

"With the People's Republic of China controlling global critical minerals supply chains, the United States needs a durable strategy to secure reliable access to the resources that power our modern economy," said Sen. Rosen. "I am proud to help introduce this bipartisan bill to make sure our government has the training, skill, and supply chains necessary to maintain and grow the United States' critical mineral leadership and ensure we're not just playing catch-up to China."

House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee Chair Young Kim (R-Calif.-40) and Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (D-Calif.-06) introduced the House companion legislation.

"America cannot allow Beijing to maintain its chokehold on the critical minerals that power our economy, our defense, and our modern lives. The DOMINANCE Act provides the long-term strategy and tools needed to break that chokehold, which is why it passed both the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House with strong bipartisan support," said Rep. Kim. "I thank Senator Scott for introducing the Critical Mineral Executive Coordination Act, which advances two key provisions of the DOMINANCE Act, and I look forward to working with him to get our bill to the President's desk before the end of the year."

"Strengthening America's critical mineral supply chains is essential to our economic and national security," said Rep. Bera. "I'm encouraged to see the Senate continue the bipartisan work we advanced through the House-passed DOMINANCE Act. I appreciate Senators Scott and Warnock's leadership in carrying forward key provisions that will strengthen our diplomatic expertise and improve coordination across the federal government."

The Critical Mineral Executive Coordination Act would establish a Foreign Service Institute training program to equip Foreign Service Officers with the resources they need to advance both economic and national security interests in relation to critical minerals and strategic competition with China.

The bill would also establish a permanent position of special advisor to the president for critical minerals and supply chains within the National Security Council, facilitating a coordinated, government-wide strategy to secure America's critical mineral supply.

Read the full text of the legislation here.

Background:

• The Chinese Communist Party controls more than 70% of global rare earth mining and around 90% of refining.
• The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the DOMINANCE Act to strengthen America's critical minerals supply chains.
• Earlier this year, Sen. Scott introduced a bill alongside his colleagues to promote American workforce development and STEM education in the critical mineral mining field.
• Sen. Scott also secured provisions in the FY26 NDAA to strengthen critical domestic supply chains and reduce U.S. dependence on China for rare earth minerals and essential defense materials.