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Coffman Rare Earth Amendments Adopted by House Committee

Press Release

Date: July 20, 2011
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Natural Resources

Today the House Committee on Natural Resources adopted amendments by Congressman Mike Coffman (R-CO) to the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2011 that would help address our growing Rare Earth Minerals supply problem by fostering domestic development.
"There is simply no reason to be almost 100 percent reliant on China for rare earth minerals when we have such abundant resources here at home," Coffman said. "I am pleased we have started working on the solution."

Coffman added language to H.R. 2011 calling for an inventory of rare earth element potential on federal lands, a report on any impediments or restrictions on the exploration or development of those rare earth elements, and recommendations to lift the impediments or restrictions while maintaining environmental safeguards.

Rare earth minerals are 17 elements used in many advanced technologies, from smart phones to precision guided munitions to components necessary for the production of renewable energy. They are dispersed widely around the earth's crust but rarely in concentrations that are commercially viable.


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