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Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) applauded the U.S. Army’s plans to fund the construction of rare earths processing facilities. Earlier this year, Rubio introduced the RE-Coop 21st Century Manufacturing Act (S. 2093) to combat China’s rare earth monopoly and boost U.S. advanced manufacturing. In a speech yesterday at the National Defense University on “American Industrial Policy and the Rise of China,” Rubio outlined the threat that China’s global monopoly on the rare earth supply chain poses to U.S. national security, and the need for policymakers to act to increase our domestic capacity to mine and process rare-earth minerals.
 
“I applaud the U.S. Army’s move to fund the construction of rare earths processing facilities to better secure a domestic supply of critical materials that are vital to our national defense and technology industry,” Rubio said. “However, the United States must do more to develop a clear, comprehensive strategy – from mining and refining through manufacturing – to counter China’s monopoly on the global rare earths market, including removing regulatory barriers for mining and processing activities. My RE-Coop 21st Century Manufacturing Act would help to create a fully integrated domestic rare earth value chain to serve U.S. national security interests and restore American competitiveness of critical advanced manufacturing industries.”
 
Related:

• December 10, 2019: Rubio: To Counter China We Must Invest in America
• July 19, 2019: Rubio Introduces Bill to Combat China’s Rare Earth Monopoly, Boost U.S. Advanced Manufacturing