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July 23, 2014

Bipartisan Critical Materials Bill Fails Due to Unfounded Ideological Attacks

(Washington, DC) – Yesterday, H.R. 1022, the Securing Energy Critical Elements and American Jobs Act of 2014 failed by a recorded vote under suspension of the rules. The purpose of the bill was to reinvigorate research and development on critical elements in order to use these elements more effectively and seek methods to substitute and recycle critical materials by promoting collaboration and research opportunities in the field of energy critical elements for researchers and students from DOE laboratories, industry, and institutions of higher education; directing the coordination of Federal agencies to promote a stable supply of energy critical elements; and requiring DOE to develop and update a strategic plan every two years for how it intends to carry out the energy critical elements program established by the bill.

Despite this bill being a bipartisan bill supported by Members on both sides of the aisle, H.R. 1022 failed by a vote of 260 for to143 against with 2/3 of voting Members required to pass the bill under suspension of the rules. Earlier today, outside advocacy groups spread misinformation on the bill and urged its defeat. 

Ranking Member of the Energy Subcommittee, Eric Swalwell (D-CA), said “A majority of House Republicans voted against America’s manufacturing and national security interests. Thanks to their obstruction, American job-creators and the Department of Defense will continue to be at the mercy of China to acquire these critical elements that help power our homes and protect our troops. Rather than support research and development that will help create jobs here at home, 142 House Republicans just voted to send good-paying jobs overseas.”

Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said, “It is a sad day for this House when a common-sense, bipartisan bill that would advance innovation, create jobs, and foster energy security is allowed to fall victim to misguided ideological objections.  The defeat of this bill works against our own national interests, and I hope that it will be reconsidered and passed before Congress finishes its business this year.”