www.AlaskaMiners.org 11 economic and geopolitical rivals. Of the 50 mineral commodities the U.S. government lists as essential for economic and national security, China is now the top producer or top supplier for 30 of those. A decades-long adversarial policy approach to American mining has turned what should be a source of strength into a strategic Achilles’ heel. Today there is bipartisan recognition of our minerals vulnerability. But we still need a coherent American minerals policy to address it. Despite important pieces of industrial policy to level the playing field for American mining — and encourage the reshoring of mineral supply chains — mine permit approvals remain trapped in a web of red tape. New American mines are glaringly missing. Without a commitment to streamline mine permitting and turn resource potential into production, all the incentives imaginable to reshore mineral production — be they manufacturing tax credits, loans from the Department of Energy, or grants from the Department of Defense — will have no place to go. It’s far past time to fix our self-imposed mineral chokepoint. Smart minerals industrial policy must work hand-in-hand with efforts to address mine permitting delays and get responsible mines approved. Made-in-America should mean mined-in-America, and we need coordination at the highest levels of government — across federal agencies that share authority over minerals policy — to ensure it happens. Canada and Australia both have dedicated ministerial offices for mining. It’s past time we have a coordinating mining advocate as well. The stakes of our great minerals challenge are enormous but so are the opportunities. From soaring mineral demand to China’s efforts to become a minerals OPEC of one, this moment requires urgency of action. Establishing a decisive minerals policy, and a leading U.S. office to shepherd it, cannot wait. Our energy future, economic competitiveness and national security all hang in the balance. Rich Nolan is president and CEO of the National Mining Association Bringing together mining equipment, technology, and custom service solutions to help build your success. ONE PARTNER FOR ALL YOUR EQUIPMENT NEEDS FIND THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT Anchorage 907-275-3300 SMSEQUIPMENT.COM Fairbanks 907-371-1501 "Made-in-America should mean mined-in-America, and we need coordination at the highest levels of government — across federal agencies that share authority over minerals policy — to ensure it happens."
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