Today, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held an oversight hearing examining the potential for and challenges of deep-sea mining. Subcommittee Chairman Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) issued the following statement in response:

“As China seeks to corner the global market for critical minerals, we must have an all-the-above mining strategy that includes support for both domestic mining and the growing deep-sea mining sector. We must cut regulatory red tape, unleash innovation, and lead the world in responsibly harvesting these resources to build resilient supply chains, protecting our economic and national security.”

Background

Minerals are essential to America’s national security, economic competitiveness and energy infrastructure. The U.S. Geological Survey has identified 60 mineral commodities critical to the nation’s economy and defense that face growing risks from disrupted supply chains. Demand for these minerals continues to rise as they are used in batteries, electronics, advanced manufacturing and defense technologies.

The ocean floor contains significant deposits of critical and other hardrock minerals. Being able to responsibly recover these resources presents an opportunity to strengthen domestic mineral supply chains, reduce reliance on foreign adversaries and support innovation in resource development.

Currently, regulatory uncertainty and lengthy permitting processes create barriers to responsible seabed mineral exploration and development. At the same time, China is aggressively expanding its influence in deep-sea mining and global mineral supply chains, raising concerns about U.S. competitiveness and security.

Examining existing legal and regulatory frameworks is necessary to ensure the United States can responsibly develop seabed mineral resources, support technological innovation and secure reliable mineral supply chains critical to national and economic security.