Wheeler Legislation Aims To Curb US Dependency on Chinese Rare Earth Elements

This week, State Rep. Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) introduced a resolution aiming to curb the United States’ dependency on Chinese refinery of Rare Earth Elements.  Rare Earth Elements are essential to everyday products such as cell phones, yet the United States current regulatory policy impedes on our ability to store and develop these rare elements.   As a result, the United States’ Senate is currently discussing the National Rare Earth Cooperative Act which would establish a refinery and storage for these rare elements.  Rep. Wheeler is urging the passage of this legislation.

“There are 17 minerals that are essential to our everyday lives.  They are in our cell phones, our medical equipment, and our national defense equipment,” says Wheeler.  “China has a 90% monopoly type control of these minerals.  Should they choose to stop refining minerals for the United States our national security, our way of life may be at risk.”

The United States currently has the infrastructure to mine these rare minerals, but regulation has gotten in the way of storing and refining them.  Should the Cooperative Act pass, Rep. Wheeler would like Illinois to be the site of this new refinery.  This would immediately create hundreds of local industrial jobs.  In the long term, the mining of these rare elements will be a boon for dozens on Illinois industries, including medical, technology, and aerospace. 

“Illinois has the potential to be the Silicon Valley of materials research,” said Wheeler.  “Right now, government regulation is halting our progress in this field.  We have the opportunity to be the rare earth mineral hub of the world. I strongly urge the passage of this Act.”

The National Rare Earth Cooperative Act of 2014 is an initiative of Senator Roy Blunt (R-Missouri).  It is currently in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for consideration.