Stauber sponsors bipartisan bill to ban Russian-imported uranium

Imports of uranium from Russia would be banned under a bipartisan bill sponsored on March 24 by U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN).

“It’s more important now than ever for the United States to achieve mineral dominance to secure our energy supply chain needs,” Rep. Stauber said. “By banning uranium imports from Russia, we can stop funding for Putin’s brutal war against Ukraine, create jobs for American workers, and secure our national defense.”

H.R. 7222 has three original cosponsors, including U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX). 

“The U.S. has the resources and capacity to produce uranium here at home and should no longer rely on foreign dictators,” said Rep. Gonzalez. “I urge our colleagues to support this legislation, stand in solidarity with Ukraine and unleash American energy.”

H.R. 7222 is the identical bill to the U.S. Senate version, S. 3856, which U.S. Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY) sponsored on March 17 alongside three Republican cosponsors.

The bill has garnered support from the Uranium Producers of America and the National Mining Association.

“Our uranium import dependence is a case study in how our vital domestic minerals supply chains have atrophied to levels that result in a dire national security risk,” said Rich Nolan, president and CEO of the National Mining Association. “We are home to the world’s largest fleet of nuclear power plants, significant uranium reserves, and yet we import virtually all of the uranium we use — half of which comes from Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. 

“Aggressive action must be taken to address this vulnerability and immediately reinvest in American-sourced, essential mined materials produced under world-leading environmental and labor standards,” Nolan said.