Rep. Gary Palmer Introduces SAMS Act to Boost U.S. Mineral Production

Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL), now leading the newly formed House Environmental Subcommittee, has put forward the American Mineral Supply (SAMS) Act. This legislation seeks to solidify an executive order from former President Donald Trump, focusing on revitalizing the production of essential minerals in the U.S. and reducing reliance on the Chinese Communist Party for critical resources.

Palmer highlights that the Biden administration’s policies have weakened U.S. energy security and increased dependence on China. He believes that the SAMS Act is crucial for reinforcing national security through the restoration of domestic mineral production and the formalization of Trump-era enforcement orders.

“For four years, the Biden-Harris administration has waged a war on American energy, failing to decrease our reliance on adversarial nations like China for vital minerals,” Palmer remarked to Breitbart News. “From day one, President Trump acted to reverse the previous administration’s mistakes. We must make these actions permanent to ensure that future administrations cannot easily reverse executive orders.”

The SAMS Act codifies five critical presidential orders aimed at prioritizing domestic mineral production and processing:

• EO 13817 – Establishing federal strategies for a safe and reliable supply of essential minerals.
• EO 13953 – Mitigating risks to domestic supply chains from dependency on critical minerals sourced from adversarial countries.
• EO 14154 – Harnessing American energy resources.
• EO 14241 – Implementing urgent measures to boost U.S. mineral production.
• EO 14272 – Ensuring national security and economic resilience in response to processed critical minerals under Section 232.

These key minerals and rare earth elements play a vital role in various technologies, including smartphones, electric vehicles, and defense systems. Historically, the U.S. led in mineral refining; however, it now heavily relies on foreign sources, especially China, which controls the majority of the global rare earth refineries.

As it stands, there are no significant rare earth refineries in the Western Hemisphere, raising concerns about U.S. industrial security and long-term resilience given our dependency on China’s refining capabilities.

Recently appointed as chair of the Environmental Subcommittee, Palmer is tasked with overseeing policies related to key minerals and rare earth elements. He has committed to using his position to enhance American security and economic independence.

The bill has garnered significant backing from fellow Republicans, with around 40 co-sponsors, including one Democrat. Some prominent supporters include Barry Moore, Tim Burchett, and others.

Palmer emphasized, “Dependence on China for essential minerals poses a clear threat to our national security. This legislation is just the first step towards ending that reliance.”