Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) has praised the passage of H.R. 4090, known as the Critical Mineral Dominance Act, a bill he co-sponsored to promote domestic production of critical minerals in the United States.
“There is a broad and growing recognition across the country that the United States must secure a reliable domestic supply of critical minerals and that starts with producing them here at home,” said Congressman Begich. “For far too long, America has allowed burdensome regulations and regulatory uncertainty to push mining overseas, leaving us dangerously dependent on adversaries like China for the materials that power our economy and defend our nation. This is about national security. The Critical Mineral Dominance Act puts America first by unlocking our vast critical mineral resources and ending our dangerous supply chain dependence on adversarial nations.”
The legislation aims to address concerns over U.S. reliance on imported minerals by streamlining regulations for mining projects on federal lands and expanding efforts to identify new mineral deposits. The bill codifies several executive orders from President Trump intended to boost American mineral production, directs the Department of the Interior to expedite permitting processes, expands geological mapping programs, and requires annual reporting on import dependence and its economic impacts.
Begich serves on the House Committee on Natural Resources and has consistently supported policies promoting resource development in Alaska and nationwide.