A letter advocating for investment in the U.S. lithium supply chain, featuring significant undeveloped deposits in the southern region, has been spearheaded by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR).
The letter, which also garnered support from Sen. John Boozman (R-Arkansas) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), was sent to David Roach, the director of the Department of the Army’s Office of Strategic Capital (OSC), on Tuesday.
Citing the Smackover Formation, recognized as North America’s largest lithium brine resource that extends from central Texas to the Florida Panhandle, the senators noted, “Recent evaluations suggest that this formation could be one of the most important lithium brine deposits in the Western Hemisphere.”
They emphasized that “Domestic production from this region could significantly reduce U.S. reliance on foreign-controlled lithium resources and ensure dependable upstream supplies for domestic defense manufacturers.”
Lithium is essential for the U.S. military’s munitions and advanced weaponry, including systems like the well-known Tomahawk and Hellfire missiles.
The letter further points out that the Department of the Army is “sharing” information. It expressed the belief that allowing strategic weaknesses in the nation’s mineral supply chain is unacceptable, urging the Department of Defense to prioritize the Smackover Lithium development as a worthy investment requiring OSC involvement, Title III Defense Production Act authorities, and other funding avenues.
This was followed by a series of inquiries regarding lithium investment priorities and the department’s strategy for securing this critical mineral, with responses needed by May 25.
Lawmakers also encouraged Roach to communicate if any legislative measures or resources are necessary that could “significantly boost the OSC’s capacity to back lithium projects like those in the Smackover Formation.”
The letter was released after Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Lee Zeldin and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum highlighted domestic lithium production as a matter of national security and economic advantage.
In a statement to Breitbart News, Cotton labeled it an “unacceptable vulnerability” that the U.S. accounts for merely 1 percent of the global lithium production “while China dominates the supply chain.”
Regarding China, he added, “Investing in domestic lithium production, particularly in the Smackover Formation in southern Arkansas, should be a national security priority.”
“I’m collaborating with the Department of the Army to elevate domestic lithium production and remove the supply chain from Communist China,” the Arkansas Republican stated.
