Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy at the Colorado School of Mines, testified before the U.S. House Natural Resources Energy & Minerals Subcommittee, discussing the connections between domestic mining, national security and economic sustainability. “Minerals are necessary for American national defense, economic prosperity and energy security,” Bazilian said. “In short, minerals are foundational across the modern economy and becoming more so.”
In his testimony, Bazilian provided several strategic recommendations to the committee. These include expanding the critical mineral stockpile, streamlining the permitting process, supporting the mining workforce, enhancing mineral supply chain transparency in government procurement and reviving the U.S. Bureau of Mines. “These actions are not only feasible but would also be effective in bolstering mineral supply chains for goods that are critical to U.S. national security,” Bazilian said.
Bazilian shared the hearing with other experts in the field, including Jeremey Harrell, CEO of ClearPath Action; Mckinsey Lyon, vice president of external affairs for Perpetua Resources; and Dustin Mulvaney, environmental studies professor at San Jose State University. The U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee hearing occurs amidst rising global competition for resources and geopolitical uncertainties, underscoring the need to secure and strengthen America’s mineral supply chains.
