Washington, DC – Following her House Foreign Affairs East Asia & Pacific Subcommittee hearing titled, “Breaking China’s Chokehold on Critical Mineral Supply Chains,” Chairwoman Young Kim (CA-40) joined Ranking Member Ami Bera (CA-06) and Rep. James Moylan of Guam introduced the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) Authorization Act.
The Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) Authorization Act formally authorizes the State Department to coordinate U.S. efforts across the MSP — a coalition of 14 countries and the European Union — to accelerate responsible investment in critical mineral projects around the world. Through diplomatic leadership and interagency coordination with partners like the DFC, USTDA, and EXIM Bank, the bill supports the development of secure, resilient, and sustainable supply chains.
“Xi Jinping should not determine whether the United States can obtain critical minerals we need to power technologies that run our lives, from cell phones to defense systems,” said Congresswoman Kim. “The United States must work with our allies to strengthen our critical mineral supply chains and protect our economy and national security from the Chinese Communist Party. The Minerals Security Partnership Authorization Act will allow us to do exactly that.”
“Minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements are essential to powering our economy, clean energy future, and national defense,” said Representative Bera. “The People’s Republic of China (PRC) currently holds a near-monopoly over many of these supply chains and has shown a willingness to weaponize that control. Securing critical minerals is not just an economic issue — it is a national security imperative. That’s why it is critical that the United States lead efforts like the Minerals Security Partnership to diversify supply chains and strengthen America’s long-term competitiveness.”
“This bill strengthens the international and domestic efforts to secure mineral supply chains and relative advanced manufacturing, all of which are critical to our economic needs. These diversified supply chains allow for a stronger partnership between our allies, while significantly reducing outsourcing from adversarial counterparts. By forging a new database that collects information to attract investments, this bill will foster the collaboration between civil and private sectors to prioritize projects aligned with national security and environmental standards,” said Rep. Moylan. “I want to thank Rep. Bera for championing this initiative utilizing the full potential of our mineral wealth to create a clean and domestic circular economy while ensuring these practices adhere to environmental guidelines. Together, we are committed to building a self-sustaining economy with resources found at home to advance essential technology and defense.”
This bipartisan bill promotes international cooperation to secure critical mineral supply chains by:
- Provide diplomatic leadership within the MSP to identify, prioritize, and support strategic projects through every stage of the critical minerals supply chain — from extraction to processing to deployment in advanced technologies;
- Coordinate with partner governments and financial institutions to mobilize responsible investment and reduce dependency on authoritarian regimes;
- Engage with producing countries through the MSP Forum to foster transparent, high-standard investment environments;
- Promote environmental safeguards, labor protections, and community benefits alongside economic development.
Established in 2022, the Minerals Security Partnership has emerged as a key platform for aligning international investment and diplomatic engagement around critical minerals. This bill lays the groundwork for continued U.S. leadership in shaping a more secure and sustainable global minerals landscape.
