US House Passes DOMINANCE Act to Cut Critical-Mineral Dependence, Citing 29-Year Mine Delays
Updated
Updated · Atlantic Council · Jun 10
US House Passes DOMINANCE Act to Cut Critical-Mineral Dependence, Citing 29-Year Mine Delays
1 articles · Updated · Atlantic Council · Jun 10
Summary
The House approved the bipartisan DOMINANCE Act this week, sending the measure to the Senate as lawmakers push to reduce US energy and critical-mineral vulnerability.
China’s export restrictions, Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz and pandemic-era supply shocks sharpened the case for action, while lawmakers said the bigger US weakness is refining capacity rather than mineral reserves.
A key provision would create a State Department Bureau of Energy Security and Diplomacy to coordinate US strategy and give allies and private investors a single point of contact.
Lawmakers said investment still faces major hurdles: building processing capacity requires billions of dollars, and bringing a US mine online takes an average of 29 years, largely because of permitting.
The House bill aligns with a separate Senate push on energy security pacts, reflecting a broader effort to build long-term policy structures that can outlast election cycles.
Can the US streamline its decades-long mining permit process to meet urgent national security needs?
As the US and EU race for mineral security, how will they avoid a bidding war for the same limited resources?
Can US stockpiling and price guarantees shield new mining ventures from foreign market manipulation?
U.S. Critical Mineral Security in 2026: The DOMINANCE Act, China’s Dominance, and the Global Race for Supply Chain Control
Overview
The DOMINANCE Act is a major U.S. legislative initiative introduced to strengthen critical mineral supply chains and reduce dependence on adversarial nations, especially China. It aims to achieve this by fostering cooperation with allies, mobilizing strategic investment, and building diplomatic and institutional capacity. By signaling a long-term commitment to mineral security, the Act provides policy certainty needed for private investment. This approach is designed to create a resilient supply chain for minerals vital to national security and advanced manufacturing, ensuring the U.S. can secure essential resources for its economy and defense.