A House Foreign Affairs subcommittee will be the latest panel this week to hold a hearing on addressing China’s dominance in critical mineral supply chains.
Various administrations and Congresses have for years worked to reduce the country’s dependence on imported minerals essential to numerous technologies — from solar panels to weapons systems. Still, the reliance persists.
The hearing will follow a ribbon-cutting event Friday with Energy Secretary Chris Wright and other officials for a Ramaco Resources mine in Wyoming. It’s the first new coal mine in the state in more than 50 years and the country’s first new rare earth element mine in more than 70 years.
Former Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia is a member of the company’s board. Another former West Virginia lawmaker, Republican Evan Jenkins, is also part of the company’s leadership team.
