To support America’s supply chains for critical minerals, U.S Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) on Jan. 15 cosponsored a bipartisan bill that would create a new Strategic Resilience Reserve (SRR).
“For years, China has leveraged its dominance of critical minerals by manipulating global markets and supply chains,” Sen. Young said. “Our bill would counter China’s ongoing coercion and ensure the United States has a secure and accessible supply of the minerals that power our defense systems and high-tech industries.”
Sen. Young introduced the Securing Essential and Critical U.S. Resources and Elements (SECURE) Minerals Act of 2026, S. 3659, alongside bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and fellow original cosponsor U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), to establish the SRR in an independent government corporation run by a seven-member board appointed by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
“Creating this reserve is a much-needed, aggressive step to protect our national and economic security,” said Sen. Young.
The SRR would focus on supporting the critical minerals market, including through stable prices, and expanding domestic and allied production capacity, stockpiles, competitive markets, and supply chains, with minerals where the U.S. is reliant on China.
The legislation also would prioritize support for projects that recycle, reuse, or repurpose critical minerals or extract minerals from mining or industrial waste, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Young’s office.
“This bipartisan legislation is a historic investment in making the U.S. economy more resilient and supporting good-paying jobs in key sectors like aerospace, autos, and technology,” said Sen. Shaheen.
The legislation has garnered support from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, the American Critical Minerals Association, Arizona State University, the Breakthrough Institute, the Center for Public Enterprise, Employ America, the Foundation for American Innovation, the Institute for Progress, Jervois, the New American Industrial Alliance, TechMet, and Zeno Power.