East Idaho Times

U.S. Senator Jim Risch recently outlined approaches Congress could adopt to bolster America's critical mineral supply and align with President Trump's energy agenda. In a Newsweek editorial, Risch emphasized the importance of reducing dependency on foreign minerals and noted the consequences of current regulations.

"The United States possesses vast reserves of critical minerals vital for our national security, industrial production, and everyday consumer goods," Risch stated. He criticized the reliance on foreign sources due to complex regulations. Risch noted that President Trump's executive order on mineral production could help move the U.S. toward self-sufficiency by leveraging domestic resources.

Risch highlighted China's decision to cut antimony supplies as a warning. Antimony is crucial for various military and industrial applications. "The U.S. has no domestic antimony source currently in production, despite having high-grade reserves waiting to be tapped," he said, arguing that the U.S. has made itself vulnerable to China's whims.

Risch pointed to the Stibnite Gold Project in Idaho, which holds significant antimony reserves, as a potential solution. The project exemplifies the challenges facing U.S. policy, as production is not expected to begin until 2028, 18 years after its inception.

"Antimony is not a singular example," Risch continued, emphasizing the need to reduce reliance on China for strategic minerals that are available domestically. He called on Congress to support the implementation of a comprehensive strategy, investing in U.S. mining projects and revitalizing processing capacity.

"We must make it clear that the United States is leading rather than following in the global race for critical minerals," Risch concluded, expressing the need for strategic investment in domestic resources.