End-Users Encourage Congress to Advance Critical Minerals Bill

A diverse group of 38 companies and organizations, representing nearly every sector of the American economy, asked Congress today to send critical minerals legislation to President Barack Obama for his signature.

The message was delivered in a coalition letter from the 38 signatories representing interests from the defense, energy, transportation, infrastructure, agriculture, technology, academic, electronics, finance, and medical sectors. The coalition wrote that they want to see legislation move forward and that they “stand ready to help make it happen.”

“As manufacturers, researchers, consumers, and developers of goods and services that rely upon critical minerals,” the letter stated, “we write to express our appreciation for progress made on critical minerals legislation, to encourage further advancement, and to offer our support for any related efforts.”

According to the coalition, critical minerals legislation will bolster America’s national and economic security, create jobs, and reduce America’s reliance on foreign countries. Urging bipartisan support, the letter said more timely permitting can be achieved “that is consistent with our nation’s environmental regulations” and which will “allow the United States to leverage its world-class mineral reserves.”

“A more robust supply of these raw materials would make the United States – already an attractive market for business – an even more advantageous place for investment going forward,” the letter concluded.

The House of Representatives passed Rep. Mark Amodei’s (R-NV-2) “National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013” last fall. The coalition is urging the Senate to move forward now.

The coalition letter was signed by the following organizations:

Please direct all media inquiries to Devon Cohen at devon.cohen@edelman.com and (202) 772-4294.