House Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Reduce US Reliance on China for Rare Earths

A cyclist wears a protective face mask while riding along a dusty road where dozens of factories processing rare earths, iron, and coal on the outskirts of Baotou city in Inner Mongolia, China on April 21, 2011. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers has introduced a proposal aimed at reducing U.S. dependence on China for rare-earth minerals and other critical materials used to manufacture modern technologies such as cellphones, hybrid vehicles, and missiles.

“A reliable supply of these materials is essential to American economic and security interests. We shouldn’t have to rely on the Chinese Communist Party for our critical military and communications technology,” said Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas), who introduced the bill along with Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), in a Sept. 1 statement from his office.