Energy & Minerals Panel Takes Up Johnson-Markey Rare Earths Bill

June 3, 2011

House Natural Resources Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Rep. Johnson’s RARE Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a hearing this morning to consider H.R. 1314, the RARE Act, introduced earlier this year by Reps. Hank Johnson (GA) and Edward J. Markey (MA).
The Resource Assessment of Rare Earths (RARE) Act directs the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to lead a global, multilateral assessment of rare earth element deposits to develop a comprehensive understanding of their distribution around the world.
Rare earth elements (REEs) are critical to high-tech manufacturing, with intensive applications in the clean energy and defense sectors. China accounts for 97% of global rare earth element production and 59% of the known global reserve base. Rising REE prices and a growing awareness of their strategic role in energy and defense technologies are driving efforts to ensure adequate U.S. supply of the metals.
Johnson called the bill "a common sense first step toward security in rare earths supply that should enjoy bipartisan support.” He applauded Subcommittee Chairman Doug Lamborn (CO) for holding the hearing. "It is a testament to your statesmanship that you have placed a bill offered by a Democrat on the table for discussion today," said Johnson.
“From wind turbines to solar panels to energy efficient light bulbs, America needs a reliable supply of rare earth materials to manufacture our clean energy future,” said Markey. “Unfortunately, we have gone from self reliance in the production of our rare earth materials to 100 percent reliance on imports, mostly from China. This bill will help reverse that troubling trend and give industry the tools and information to get America back in the rare earths business.”
Jeff L. Doebrich, Acting Mineral Resources Program Coordinator at USGS, testified that the "Department of the Interior supports the goals of this bill" and that "a global assessment of undiscovered RE resources" is a "logical next step" for U.S. policy.
Jim Engdahl, President and CEO of Great Western Minerals Group, testified that the RARE Act offers "important elements of a much-needed comprehensive solution to challenges in developing a complete, reliable and competitive rare earth supply-chain in the United States."
The bill was featured last month as one of twenty-five in the Democratic Caucus’ “Make it in America Agenda.”
- MORE: Rep. Johnson’s April 21 column, “US must dig in on rare earth metals”