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Miami, FL — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) welcomed an Executive Order by President Trump which declares a national emergency regarding American dependence on foreign nations for critical mineral mining, refining, and processing, and directs the U.S. government to take further steps to reduce that dependence.
 
Last 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 last December 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. He reiterated that argument in July in an op-ed.
 
“I have been warning that U.S. dependence on China for rare earth minerals is a supply chain risk that must be addressed, and I applaud President Trump for taking action,” Rubio said. “To counter China’s monopoly on the global rare earths market, the United States must develop a clear, comprehensive strategy that addresses every element of the supply chain, including mining, but also the refining and processing capabilities we currently depend on China to provide us. As always, Congress has an important role to play, and that should begin with passing my RE-Coop 21st Century Manufacturing Act, which would help to create a fully integrated domestic rare earth value chain by providing a cooperative domestic refining capacity that can serve the entire industry, advance U.S. national security interests, and restore the competitiveness of critical advanced manufacturing industries.”
 
Related:
 

• July 17, 2020: America’s Security Needs a Cooperative Rebuilding of Rare Earth Supply Chains
• May 15, 2020: ICYMI: Rubio: Breaking the China Supply Chain
• December 12, 2019: Rubio Applauds U.S. Army’s Move to Fund Construction of Rare Earths Processing Facilities
• 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
• February 12, 2019: Rubio Releases Report Outlining China’s Plan for Global Dominance and Why America Must Respond