U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) believes the U.S. is too dependent on China and other countries when it comes to vital rare earth minerals.
Palmer discussed the issue with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Lee Zeldin during a House Energy Committee hearing Tuesday.
“There’s something else that I want to talk with you about that I think is really critical right now, and that is our ability to have access to rare earth elements,” Palmer said. “China controls 94% of the rare earth refining. They have the largest deposit of rare earth elements in the world. The United States, I think, is seventh on that list, and we’re finding ourselves in a position where there’s not a single major refinery for rare earth elements in the Western Hemisphere.”
We must be able to mine, process, and refine our own rare earth elements supply. It is vital not only for our economy, but also for our national security.
Thank you @epaleezeldin for prioritizing this issue! pic.twitter.com/2Kx84PaZll
— Gary Palmer (@USRepGaryPalmer) May 20, 2025
The congressman stressed the need for the U.S. to have the ability to meet its own rare earth material needs.
“I think that we’re at a point where we’re going to have to look at permitting, look at the regulations, in order for the United States to catch up to secure the supply chain that we need, and there are multiple opportunities to do this,” he argued. “You can find rare earth elements in coal ash. You can find them and things like discarded hard drives. But we need to be able to mine, process, and refine our own rare earth element supply, because it is not just important for economists, it’s important for our national security.”
Zeldin, who was there to testify on the 2025 EPA budget request, agreed with Palmer on the issue.
“There is an opportunity here for us to be able to not just benefit economically, but I would also look at it as a matter of national security, for us not to have to rely on other nations at a moment where it would matter most in the future to make sure that we are prepared here domestically,” said Zeldin. “I think it’s a very important priority for the National Energy Dominance Council and for the Trump Administration.”
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee
