Bipartisan Bill Boosts U.S. Critical Mineral Supply Chain Through Diplomatic Alliances & Federal Offices

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A bipartisan bill aimed at securing the U.S. Supply chain for critical minerals—essential components for defense, clean energy, and advanced technologies—advanced through a key House committee on Wednesday, marking a major legislative step to counter China’s dominance in the sector.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved H.R. 7037, the DOMINANCE Act, in a 45-0 vote. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.), seeks to strengthen U.S. Diplomatic partnerships and federal coordination to diversify supply chains for minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements, which are currently heavily controlled by China.

“Far too much of these supply chains are controlled by China, creating a strategic vulnerability that the United States cannot afford to ignore,” the bill’s text emphasizes, framing the issue as both an economic and national security imperative.

Diplomatic and Federal Boosts

The bill’s passage reflects growing bipartisan urgency to address China’s near-monopoly over critical mineral production and processing. While the exact provisions of the final version are not yet publicly detailed, the committee’s action signals congressional momentum behind efforts to:

• Expand the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), a U.S.-led coalition of 14 countries and the European Union, to accelerate responsible investment in mineral projects globally.
• Create new federal offices to coordinate diplomatic and interagency efforts, including partnerships with agencies like the Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), and the Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank).
• Strengthen supply chain resilience by supporting projects from extraction to deployment in advanced technologies, reducing reliance on adversarial nations.

Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.), a key sponsor of complementary legislation—the Minerals Security Partnership Authorization Act—has framed the issue as a direct challenge to China’s influence. “Minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements are essential to powering our economy, clean energy future, and national defense,” Bera stated in a July 2025 press release. “The People’s Republic of China currently holds a near-monopoly over many of these supply chains and has shown a willingness to weaponize that control.”

Broader Legislative and Geopolitical Context

The DOMINANCE Act’s progression follows a series of bipartisan efforts to address critical mineral vulnerabilities. In recent months, the Senate has also seen proposals to secure domestic reserves, including legislation introduced by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) to develop lithium resources in Texas’s Smackover Formation, one of the largest untapped lithium brine reserves in the U.S.

These developments come as global competition for critical minerals intensifies. China’s control over refining and processing—accounting for over 80% of global rare earth production and 60% of lithium processing—has raised alarms in Washington, where officials warn of supply chain risks to semiconductors, electric vehicles, and military hardware.

The House committee’s vote sets the stage for potential floor action, though the bill’s ultimate fate will depend on negotiations between chambers and White House support. If enacted, the legislation could reshape U.S. Energy security strategy by prioritizing diplomatic alliances and federal investments in mineral supply chains.

For now, the bipartisan consensus underscores a rare area of agreement in Congress: the need to reduce dependence on foreign—particularly Chinese—mineral sources to safeguard both economic and military leadership.