Media Coverage
Source: Mining.com
Media Coverage
Press Contacts: Erik Cummins, Matt Hyams, Taina Rosa, Olivia Meyer
01.28.26
Growing concerns over supply-chain vulnerability have prompted bipartisan efforts to create a $2.5 billion strategic reserve for critical minerals essential to clean energy, electrification and national security. The proposed Securing Essential and Critical U.S. Resources and Elements (SECURE) Minerals Act would support domestic production, processing, recycling and stockpiling as a long-term U.S. economic and security priority.
According to International Trade senior counsel Sahar Hafeez, who co-leads Pillsbury’s Minerals, Metals and Materials practice, legislation of this scope typically takes time to advance and is likely to undergo multiple revisions before becoming law.
“We understand that the House Committee on Natural Resources is looking to schedule a mark-up and that the Senate is aiming for including this as part of the [U.S. National Defense Authorization Act],” she said.
Hafeez noted that the bill establishes new statutory authority to create a $2.5 billion strategic reserve rather than relying on existing stockpiling frameworks, and does not amend legacy statutes such as the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act of 1939.
“From a national security and supply-chain resilience perspective, the legislation prioritizes domestic projects and U.S.-based supply chains, as well as initiatives that incorporate recycling and unconventional feedstocks,” she told Mining.com. “It also targets materials where U.S. import dependence is effectively 100 percent, which could potentially include projects from foreign sources, particularly where [Development Finance Corporation] authorities are leveraged.”
“The legislation,” she said, “also provides that partner governments, upon approval by the Reserve, can make capital contributions for financing and acquiring for the Reserve.”
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