WASHINGTON, D.C.—Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) issued the following statement upon House passage of the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act:
“Today the House took an important step in addressing the significant strategic and economic vulnerabilities America faces when it comes to securing the mineral supplies our nation needs for everything from military technology for our troops, to the cars, smartphones and other devices Americans use every day. Washington red tape and a sometimes decades-long permitting process are standing in the way of our nation’s ability to develop our own mineral supplies, and instead force us to rely on China and other nations for these materials so crucial to modern life. This bill by my friend and colleague Mark Amodei helps streamline the permitting process so America can maintain protections for our environment while meeting our urgent national security and economic needs.”