[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 29, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5945-S5946]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE

                                 ______
                                 

   REPORT RELATIVE TO THE ISSUANCE OF AN EXECUTIVE ORDER DECLARING A 
NATIONAL EMERGENCY TO DEAL WITH THE THREAT POSED BY OUR NATION'S UNDUE 
 RELIANCE ON CRITICAL MINERALS, IN PROCESSED OR UNPROCESSED FORM, FROM 
                       FOREIGN ADVERSARIES--PM 59

  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the President of the United States, together with an accompanying 
report; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources:

To the Congress of the United States:
  Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 
1601 et seq.), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby 
report that I have issued an Executive Order declaring a national 
emergency to deal with the threat posed by our Nation's undue reliance 
on critical minerals, in processed or unprocessed form, from foreign 
adversaries.
  A strong America cannot be dependent on imports from foreign 
adversaries for the critical minerals that are increasingly necessary 
to maintain our economic and military strength in the 21st century. 
Because of the national importance of reliable access to critical 
minerals, I signed Executive Order 13817 of December 20, 2017 (A 
Federal Strategy To Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical 
Minerals), which required the Secretary of the Interior to identify 
critical minerals and made it the policy of the Federal Government ``to 
reduce the Nation's vulnerability to disruptions in the supply of 
critical minerals.'' The critical minerals identified by the Secretary 
of the Interior are necessary inputs for the products our military, 
national infrastructure, and economy depend on the most. Our country 
needs critical minerals to make airplanes, computers, cell phones, 
electricity generation and transmission systems, and advanced 
electronics.
  Though these minerals are indispensable to our country, we presently 
lack the capacity to produce them in processed form in the quantities 
we need. American producers depend on foreign countries to supply and 
process them. Whereas the United States recognizes the continued 
importance of cooperation on supply chain issues with international 
partners and allies, in many cases, the aggressive economic practices 
of certain non-market foreign producers of critical minerals have 
destroyed vital mining and manufacturing jobs in the United States. We 
must reduce our vulnerability to adverse foreign government action, 
natural disaster, or other supply disruptions. Our national security, 
foreign

[[Page S5946]]

policy, and economy require a consistent supply of each of these 
minerals.
  Using the authority vested in me by IEEPA, the Executive Order 
requires the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the 
Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of 
Commerce, and the heads of other executive departments and agencies, as 
appropriate, to investigate our Nation's undue reliance on critical 
minerals, in processed or unprocessed form, from foreign adversaries. 
Following this investigation, the Executive Order requires the 
Secretary of the Interior to submit a report to the President 
recommending additional executive action.
  The Executive Order also declares that it is the policy of the United 
States to protect and expand the domestic supply chain for minerals. 
Specific executive department and agency heads, including the Secretary 
of the Interior and the Secretary of Energy, are directed to take 
various actions to protect and expand the domestic supply chain for 
minerals, consistent with applicable law, such as the publication of 
guidance, the revision of regulations, and the acceleration of the 
issuance of permits.
  I am enclosing a copy of the Executive Order I have issued.
                                                     Donald J. Trump.  
The White House, September 30, 2020.

                          ____________________