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Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2013

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The Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2013 (S. 1600) was a legislative proposal to create a comprehensive policy for the nation's critical minerals supply, encompassing assessment, recycling, research, production, and forecasting. The bill was first introduced in the United States Senate in October 2013.[1][2]

Background

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the nation was reliant on foreign imports for 19 minerals in 2013 (these are listed in the table below). For 40 key mineral commodities identified by USGS, more than one-half of the country's consumption came from foreign imports.[3]

Mineral commodity import reliance as of 2013
Mineral Percent imported Major import sources
Arsenic 100% Morocco, China, Belgium
Asbestos 100% Canada, Brazil
Bauxite and alumina 100% Jamaica, Brazil, Guinea, Australia
Cesium 100% Canada
Fluorspar 100% Mexico, China, South Africa, Mongolia
Graphite (natural) 100% China, Mexico, Canada, Brazil
Indium 100% Canada, China, Japan, Belgium
Manganese 100% South Africa, Gabon, Australia, Georgia
Mica, sheet (natural) 100% China, Brazil, Belgium, India
Niobium (columbium) 100% Brazil, Canada
Quartz crystal (industrial) 100% China, Japan, Russia
Rubidium 100% Canada
Scandium 100% China
Strontium 100% Mexico, Germany, China
Tantalum 100% China, Germany, Kazakhstan, Russia
Thallium 100% Germany, Russia
Thorium 100% India, France
Vanadium 100% Canada, Czech Rep., Rep. of Korea, Austria
Yttrium 100% China, Japan, Austria, France
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, "Mineral Commodity Summaries 2014," February 28, 2014

On September 18, 2013, the United States House of Representatives passed a critical minerals policy act of its own: the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013 (H.R. 761). Of the 246 members who voted yes on H.R. 761, 15 were Democrats. No Republicans voted against the bill. Of the nine members who did not vote, seven were Democrats and two were Republicans.[4][5]

Legislative history

DocumentIcon.jpg See bill: Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2013

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), joined by 18 cosponsors (including 10 Democrats and eight Republicans), introduced S. 1600 in the United States Senate on October 29, 2013. The bill was referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The committee held a hearing for the legislation on January 28, 2014.[2]

Components

Identifying critical minerals

S. 1600 proposed that the Secretary of the Interior develop a methodology for identifying critical minerals. The legislation also proposed that the Secretary of the Interior review the methodology and critical mineral designations every five years.[6][7]

Other provisions

S. 1600 proposed that the president "establish an analytical and forecasting capability for identifying critical mineral market dynamics relevant to policy formation." The bill also proposed that federal agencies "facilitate the development and production of domestic resources to meet national critical material and minerals needs."[6][7]

The legislation proposed that the Secretary of Energy conduct research and develop programs "to promote the production, use and recycling of critical minerals throughout the supply chain" and "development of alternatives to critical minerals."[6][7]

Funding

S. 1600 proposed to authorize appropriations totaling $60 million.[7]

See also

External links

Footnotes