Chairman Mast Joins colleagues on bipartisan DOMINANCE Act to unleash U.S. domestic critical mineral production

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast joined fellow members of the committee in introducing a bipartisan bill to end China’s chokehold over global critical mineral supply and unleash U.S. domestic mineral production. 

The Developing Overseas Mineral Investments and New Allied Networks for Critical Energies (DOMINANCE) Act, led by East Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee Chairwoman Young Kim and Ranking Member Ami Bera, will accelerate U.S. acquisition of priority minerals, enhance cooperation with allies, and forge strategic mineral and energy partnerships around the globe.

“For too long, China has had a chokehold on the global critical mineral supply chain,” Chairman Mast said. “This is an unacceptable threat to our economic and national security. I am proud to co-sponsor the Dominance Act, which will give the U.S. the tools it needs to end Chinese coercion over these essential resources. This is a must-win for the U.S. and our allies throughout the globe.”

Background

The Chinese Communist Party has a chokehold on the building blocks of the modern technology economy: critical minerals. Beijing dominates more than 70% of global rare earth mining and nearly 90% of refining and has repeatedly weaponized this leverage. Access to these minerals is foundational to U.S. national and economic security.

The U.S. must unleash domestic minerals production, but we cannot meet our economy's demand and those of our allies alone. Expanding U.S. mining, processing, and manufacturing is a necessary step to restore industrial competitiveness and supply chain security. Yet, even with a revitalized domestic sector, the U.S. must build a robust international ecosystem outside of China.

By working with trusted allies and partners to build new mining and processing capacity, developing minerals and energy infrastructure, and fostering strong demand for non-Chinese minerals, we can secure resilient supply chains that support our economy, bolster the defense industrial base, and prevent the CCP from holding the free world hostage.

Purpose

The DOMINANCE Act aligns the U.S.’s technical tools to secure resilient and diversified energy and minerals supply chains, strengthening national security, economic competitiveness, and energy dominance by reducing reliance on China for critical mineral, energy infrastructure, and related technologies.

• Mobilize U.S. technical capabilities to accelerate the acquisition of priority minerals and energy supply-chains overseas;
• Enhance cooperation with allies and partners to bolster education programs, mining, processing, and refining capacity in secure markets;
• Forge strategic minerals and energy partnerships through burden-sharing resource assessments, project development, and long-term supply agreements.

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