Emphasizing the importance of rare earth metals and minerals to America’s national security and economic well-being, two prominent members of CongressSen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), head of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Ark.), the committee’s ranking Republicanhave urged President Biden to ramp up domestic mining operations immediately by invoking the Defense Production Act (DPA).
Title III of that 1950 law was dusted off by President Trump to jumpstart the production of ventilators for hospitalized COVID-19 patients. President Biden issued executive orders in February 2021 authorizing the acts taxpayer-financed incentivesloans, loan guarantees, direct purchases and purchase commitmentsto ensure that the U.S. economy has sufficient capacity to produce critical items like vaccines and personal protective equipment.
More than two years into the federal governments demonstrably ineffective and…
