What They’re Saying: Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens Introduces the ‘Unearth America’s Future Act’
“The ambitious bill is Stevens' response to growing concern that the United States is overly dependent on China to power manufacturing in key strategic sectors.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens announced her plan to introduce the Unearth America’s Future Act which would remake America’s mineral supply chain to lower prices, create jobs, and stop dependence on China.
Congresswoman Stevens formally introduced the bill today.
Here’s what Michiganders are hearing about this bill:
Detroit News: With China dominating, Stevens bill seeks CHIPS-like federal effort on critical minerals
By: Grant Schwab
Democratic U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens will introduce a bill this week urging the federal government to play a more active role in reducing U.S. reliance on China for critical minerals.
“This bill is about real results. It will lower costs and create jobs by bringing mineral production back home, supporting Michigan workers, and keeping our supply chains strong," the Birmingham congresswoman and U.S. Senate candidate said.
The package — called the Unearth America's Future Act — would direct tens of billions of dollars in federal loans, tax credits and other funds into the next decade for initiatives to boost mining and refining of essential materials for the automotive, defense, health care and telecommunications industries.
The ambitious bill is Stevens' response to growing concern that the United States is overly dependent on China to power manufacturing in key strategic sectors. Those concerns only grew stronger after the Far East nation created a potentially "dire" situation for Michigan's auto sector with export controls issued in response to President Donald Trump's trade policies.
“Donald Trump has pushed an agenda that puts our economy and national security at risk. They talk tough and make headlines but their policies have only caused prices to rise, weakened our manufacturing industries, and left America more dependent on China,” Stevens said in an emailed statement.
The fourth-term lawmaker's package is structured similarly to the CHIPS and Science Act, a signature legislative achievement of former President Joe Biden.
Politico’s E&E News: Dems prepare bill to provide $10B for critical materials
By: Hannah Northey
House Democrats are planning to unveil legislation this week that would set aside more than $10 billion for critical material projects to counter China’s dominance.
Reps. Haley Stevens of Michigan and Jim Clyburn of South Carolina say the proposal would rival any trade deal President Donald Trump reaches with Beijing because it would restore U.S. supply chains faster.
The language, according to Stevens’ and Clyburn’s aides, is structured similarly to the CHIPS and Science Act, which former President Joe Biden signed into law in 2022.
Michigan Advance: Stevens intros bill for critical materials to counter China
By: Ben Solis
U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) is working with her congressional colleagues to introduce legislation that will seek to counter China’s stranglehold on critical materials and set aside $10 billion to make it happen.
Unveiled Tuesday, the Unearth America’s Future Act was described as a means to lower costs, create jobs and ensure Michigan workers and manufacturers are leading the way in critical mineral production.
At present, the U.S. and many other nations are dependent on China for these materials, including cobalt, lithium and magnesium, which are needed in the manufacture of many high tech electronics. Stevens’ bill aims to fix that by putting money toward responsible domestic mineral production. The legislation would also support partnerships between government and private industry, with investments in innovation that would keep jobs in Michigan.
“Donald Trump has pushed an agenda that puts our economy and national security at risk,” Stevens said in a statement. “They talk tough and make headlines but their policies have only caused prices to rise, weakened our manufacturing industries, and left America more dependent on China. This bill is about real results.”
WEMU: Rep. Stevens tries to boost American mineral production efforts
By: Colin Jackson
“The industry for materials key to American manufacturing could receive extra government support under proposed legislation from a Michigan congresswoman.”
“The bill is named the "Unearth America's Future Act." It would create new federal loans, tax credits, and programs to spur the domestic production and refining of critical minerals like copper, magnesium, and aluminum.”
“The policy proposal is a response to concerns about China’s dominance in the market for precious metals, especially those used in goods like smartphones or vehicle batteries.”
“Stevens said that makes both the country’s and Michigan’s current situations untenable.”
“Leaving Michigan’s entire manufacturing base on the hook for materials coming from minerals that are refined in China, that’s a risk. And that’s not working,” she said.
“Democratic representative Haley Stevens says her bill takes a different approach. ‘What this bill is, is focused on public-private partnerships, supply chain opportunities, as well as recyclability, which is something that's getting a lot of traction in the critical material space right now.’
Michigan Public Radio - Detroit, MI
“Democratic Representative Haley Stevens calls her bill a comprehensive plan. ‘This will increase our resilience here in the United States of America, but it will also increase our domestic production capabilities, which means lowering costs, lowering costs, lowering costs. We need to lower costs, and that's what this bill is going to be about as well and job creation.’
“It's not acceptable to have this reliance on China, and so I put forward legislation.”
“This bill will actually lower costs, get us jobs and end up paying for itself.”
“We all know that this current administration is eager to cut deals with other countries. I'm eager to cut deals for Michigan. I am eager to put proof in the pudding and put forward real industrial policy that will deliver for our state.”
Here’s what stakeholders are saying about the bill:
David McCall, President of United Steelworkers International:
“Erasing the People’s Republic of China’s global lead in critical minerals will require a balance of domestic and international efforts. The USW applauds Rep. Stevens’ work to develop domestic mining and manufacturing jobs while ensuring export financing supports projects that respect strong labor rights and maintain strict air and water quality standards.”
John Bozzella, President and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation:
“A healthy and competitive auto industry in America supports our economic and national security. Representative Stevens’ Unearth America’s Future Act makes good sense on multiple fronts: it’s a policy to secure critical material supply chains that bypass China and are essential for national defense; it will further modernize our domestic industrial base; and will support American manufacturing, innovation and auto industry jobs.”
Will Brown, Vice President of Government Relations & International Programs of the Aluminum Association:
“This legislation is a significant step toward producing, collecting and securing more critical materials like aluminum in the United States. As one of only 11 mineral commodities included on the Department of Defense and all other government critical materials lists, aluminum is essential to modern life – in everything from cars, cans and smartphones to tanks and fighter jets. Congresswoman Stevens’ bill is a downpayment on American jobs, innovation and supply chain resilience.”
Sarah Venuto, Executive Director of the American Critical Minerals Association:
"The Unearth America’s Future Act recognizes the need for comprehensive legislative solutions aimed at catalyzing the growth of the U.S. domestic critical materials sector. China continues to demonstrate its persistent willingness to take any and all steps to maintain its monopoly over the global supply of critical materials. The U.S. must play a leading role in the diversification of these markets in order to ensure our economy is insulated from increased costs to consumers, delayed timelines for essential goods and services, and national security risks associated with our dependence on other nations for materials key to our defense sector. We applaud Representative Stevens for her continued leadership on the imperative nature of addressing these risks comprehensively and aggressively, and for continuing this important policy conversation. ACMA looks forward to working with Representative Stevens and Congress as this legislation is debated and considered.”
Orit Frankel, CEO of the American Leadership Initiative:
"Congresswoman Stevens’s bill is a critical step to strengthening America’s national and economic security, while reducing our dependence on China’s critical mineral supply which China has withheld as leverage in the bilateral relationship."
Dinah McLeod, Director General of the Cobalt Institute:
"Ensuring critical mineral projects have access to affordable finance often becomes a missing piece of the policy puzzle. Rep. Stevens' Bill takes important steps to close the gap and get America growing its critical minerals capacity.”
Alice Wu, Critical Minerals and Energy Supply Chains Policy Manager at the Federation of American Scientists:
“Geographic concentration in critical minerals supply chains puts American national security and our economy at risk. That risk has been made clear with recent trade disruptions such as the PRC’s changes to rare earth export license requirements. The Loan Program established by the Unearth America’s Future Act would reinvigorate investment in diversifying and onshoring critical minerals supply chains, while the public-private partnership would provide a flexible set of tools for the federal government to work with industry in mitigating project risks and supporting market stability.”
Patrick Donnelly, Chief Commercial Officer of Anovion Technologies:
"Anovion Technologies considers this bill a vital step in strengthening the domestic battery materials industry. Synthetic graphite, which can account for up to 30% of the weight of a typical lithium-ion battery, is currently sourced almost entirely from China. Reducing reliance on China for this critical material is essential to securing the nation's energy infrastructure, supporting the Department of Defense, and advancing the automotive sector.”
Scott Monteith, CEO of Avalon Advanced Materials:
"The proposed legislation is a needed blueprint for how the United States government, in partnership with allies can spur economic growth and an innovation economy for the future. Avalon welcomes the bold initiative and looks forward to helping accelerate North American energy security.”
Matt Bedingfield, President of Mint Innovation:
"Mint Innovation is a pioneering clean technology company that has developed a biotechnology to recover critical minerals from electronic waste. The Unearth America’s Future Act is a significant move forward for U.S. national security, bolstering domestic critical mineral production. The Unearth America’s Future Act’s definition of 'Critical Minerals Manufacturing' expands to the secondary market including recycled metals, improving mineral supply where traditional mining production will not meet growing demand. Additionally, greater access to funding by way of grants, loans, and research & development will support the growth of domestic critical minerals production across the entire supply chain. This will create new jobs for U.S. citizens, and improve the national and economic strength of the United States.”
Teague Egan, CEO of EnergyX:
“This legislation is a pivotal step toward securing America’s leadership in the global critical materials market. By aligning federal incentives, innovation, and workforce development, it positions the U.S. to lead globally while driving sustainable growth and industrial resilience at home.”
Adam Handley, Executive Chair of Northern Minerals:
“Ensuring access to critical minerals through strategic collaboration with allied nations and partners is vital to reducing reliance on single-source supply chains. We commend Rep. Stevens and the introduction of the Unearth America’s Future Act for rightly emphasizing the need for deeper international cooperation to build secure, resilient supply chains, and look forward to supporting its progress through Congress.”