Photo illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios. Photo: Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Rep. Pete Stauber is betting more Democrats will back his domestic mining initiatives in the next Congress.
Why it matters: Stauber is a tireless advocate for the mining industry with a major disputed project in his northern Minnesota district.
- "We're going to look at all options in order to mine domestically," Stauber said in an interview, whether it's through "stand-alone legislation, whether it's in reconciliation, whether it's by executive order."
The big picture: Stauber's already having conversations with Democrats about reviving stalled permitting talks and strengthening Buy American provisions.
- "I just sat down in the chamber with a very influential member of the Democratic Party who says we have to mine," Stauber told Axios.
- The Chinese ban this month on exports of three minerals to the U.S. sounded alarm bells in the EV supply chain, which likely pulls in more Democrats, he said.
The other side: "There's bipartisan recognition that we are behind" adversaries like China on mineral security, Rep. Eric Swalwell, the Congressional Critical Minerals Caucus co-chair, told Daniel.
- Swalwell, a Bay Area Democrat, said more in his party are coming around to the idea that mining can be environmentally safe and use new technology.
- He said his 2023 bipartisan bill on rare earth magnets is "ready for prime time and ready to ride with a larger energy bill."
- Swalwell joined 43 other Democrats in supporting legislation to add copper to the USGS critical mineral list, a major priority for the industry.
Zoom in: Stauber said he'd work to bolster foreign entities of concern guidance around IRA incentives like the 45X and 48C tax credits.
- Parts of that law and IIJA are "really important" and "we're going to push our leadership to make sure that they stay," he said.
- He also plans to reintroduce his bill to reverse Biden's mineral withdrawal in the Superior National Forest, restore long-held mineral leases, and ensure timely permitting of the project (just two Dems voted for it).
- Stauber criticized Biden for running "the most anti-mining administration in the history of this country" and that "President Trump is going to turn it around."
