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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
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
- ↑ American Institute of Physics, "Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Critical Minerals Legislation," December 6, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Congress.gov, "All Actions: S.1600 — 113th Congress (2013-2014)," accessed August 26, 2014
- ↑ U.S. Geological Survey, "Mineral Commodity Summaries 2014," February 28, 2014
- ↑ The New York Times, "House Vote 471 - H.R.761: On Passage," accessed August 26, 2014
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.761 - National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013," accessed August 26, 2014
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Congress.gov, "Summary: S.1600 — 113th Congress (2013-2014)," accessed August 25, 2014
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 U.S. Government Printing Office, "113th Congress: 1st Session - S. 1600," October 29, 2014
