Press Releases
Velázquez Urges Smart, Sustainable Strategy to Secure Critical Mineral Supply Chains
Washington,
June 24, 2025
WASHINGTON – Today, at a House Small Business Committee hearing titled “Securing America’s Mineral Future: Unlocking the Economic Value Beneath Our Feet,” Democratic Members called for a balanced approach to securing critical minerals, which are essential to clean energy, national defense, and small business innovation.
In a prepared statement, Ranking Member Nydia M. Velázquez emphasized that mining alone cannot solve America’s critical mineral supply chain challenges and called for a broad, forward-looking federal strategy.
“We cannot mine our way out of our critical mineral needs. The federal government must prioritize and maintain investments in recycling, waste recovery, “friendshoring,” and industrial policy if our nation is to reclaim control over our critical mineral supplies,” said Ranking Member Velázquez.
Democrats pushed back on efforts to weaken environmental protections or fast-track harmful mining projects in the name of energy security. They stressed that mining can have serious consequences for nearby communities, tribal lands, and small businesses that depend on clean water and healthy outdoor ecosystems. Members also pointed to the outdated 1872 Mining Law, which still governs hardrock mining on federal lands and hasn’t kept up with modern environmental or economic realities.
Throughout the hearing, Democrats called for continued support for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, which made historic investments in mineral processing, recycling, and workforce development.
Dr. Laura Stoy, founder and CEO of Rivalia Chemical Company testified on the importance of federal research funding in helping small innovators scale breakthrough technologies and strengthen domestic rare earth mineral supply chains.
“Without the Department of Energy’s Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program and National Science Foundation, Rivalia would have had a much harder path. Government funding can and should be used to launch breakthrough advancements that will lead America into prosperity as a global science and technology leader – especially in critical minerals,” said Dr. Stoy.
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