House Republicans this week will explore ways to help advance President Donald Trump’s ambitious push to ratchet up domestic mining and counter China.
Republican Rep. Gary Palmer of Alabama, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, will hold a hearing Wednesday to examine what steps Congress can take to enhance mineral supply chains.
Palmer advised Trump before he won the White House a second time on ways to boost domestic mining. His district is home to a project angling to produce battery-grade natural graphite. China currently dominates those supply chains.
House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and Palmer in a joint statement said critical minerals are essential to America’s energy independence and national security, and the hearing will examine “vulnerabilities within our current supply chains and explore ways to mitigate those risks.”
