To require a national strategy to secure United States supply chains involving critical minerals sourced from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · July 14, 2023
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate and Grid Security.
This bill requires the federal government to develop a comprehensive national strategy to protect American supply chains for critical minerals sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly cobalt, copper, and lithium. The legislation directs the President to submit this strategy within 120 days, with updates every three years thereafter, addressing how China has gained near-monopoly control over DRC's mineral extraction and processing—controlling 15 of 19 cobalt mines and refining 80 percent of the world's cobalt. The bill also expresses Congressional priorities for supporting democratic elections in DRC scheduled for December 2023, ending armed conflicts in eastern DRC, holding Rwanda accountable for supporting armed groups, and promoting accountability and human rights standards in DRC's mining industry. Additionally, it calls for increased U.S. investment and diplomatic engagement in DRC's mining sector to reduce reliance on Chinese-controlled resources and enhance staffing at the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa dedicated to critical minerals. The legislation seeks to reverse what it views as failed previous policies while countering Chinese economic dominance in a strategically important resource sector.
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