WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) issued the following statement regarding the introduction of the Cobalt Optimizes Batteries and Leading Technologies Act of 2022 or the “COBALT Act.”
This bill aims to increase cobalt reserves in the National Defense Stockpile by directing the Defense Secretary to increase the amount of domestically refined cobalt. Additionally, the COBALT Act seeks to establish domestic cobalt refining capability in the United States, alleviate America’s current dependence on foreign countries for our domestic cobalt supply, and combat slave and forced child labor by requiring much needed transparency throughout the mining and refining process.
“Much of our nation's and the world's cobalt supply comes from China through slave and forced child labor, which ultimately empowers the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and turns a blind eye to its inhumane treatment of African people, said Rep. Donalds. “Our dependence on foreign countries, such as the CCP, for our domestic cobalt supply is a matter of national security. I am proud to sponsor the COBALT Act, which aims to put America first by pursuing self-sufficient pro-American solutions and promoting domestic energy independence.”
Supplementing this bill, I also sent two letters to the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy expressing my strong support for advancing America's energy capabilities by domestically mining and refining critical earth minerals such as cobalt. Please see the below links for access to these letters.
Rep. Donalds' letter to the Department of Defense
Rep. Donalds' letter to the Department of Energy
Original cosponsors of the COBALT Act include: Representatives Salazar, Nehls, Feenstra, Posey, Cawthorn, Crawford, Baird, Rosendale, Hern, and Mullin.
Click HERE to read the bill in its entirety.
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