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Rep. Kelly Votes to Increase Domestic Mining of Strategic and Critical Minerals

July 12, 2012

Washington, DC —U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (PA-03) issued the following statement on his vote today in support of the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012, which requires the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to more efficiently develop domestic sources of strategic and critical minerals and mineral materials. These minerals include rare earth elements that are used in the manufacturing of jet engines, aircraft armored vehicles, night-vision goggles, and other equipment essential to our national security. They are also used in the production of computers and other electronics.

Rep. Kelly issued the following statement:

“America has been blessed with an abundance of natural resources that power our economy and create jobs for millions of Americans. Among those resources are vast supplies of minerals that are estimated to be worth $6.2 trillion. Instead of mining our own, the U.S. imports $6.9 billion worth of minerals from foreign countries, including China, which produces 97 percent of rare earth elements available in the world. This dependence can be broken if we begin to develop our own rare earth elements, which will not only create jobs, but will increase American economic competitiveness and strengthen our national security at a time when we need it most.”

Note

H.R. 44210 will expedite the mining permit process by requiring lead federal, state, and local agencies to:

  • Set and adhere to timelines and schedulers for completion of review;
  • Set clear permitting goals; and
  • Track progress against those goals.

H.R. 4402 is supported by the National Association of Home Builders, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the Northwest Mining Association.

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