The House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced H.R. 7037, the Developing Overseas Mineral Investments and New Allied Networks for Critical Energies (DOMINANCE) Act, in a markup held May 13. The bipartisan bill is led by Chairwoman Young Kim of California’s 40th District and Ranking Member Ami Bera of California’s 6th District.
The DOMINANCE Act aims to strengthen global supply chains for critical minerals and secure the United States’ energy future with allied nations. Lawmakers say this is important as these minerals are essential for military power, industrial capacity, and economic competitiveness.
“Critical minerals are the foundation of America’s military power, industrial strength, and economic competitiveness. We cannot rely on China for the very materials that underpin our economic and national security,” said Chairwoman Young Kim. “My DOMINANCE Act helps lock in President Trump’s critical minerals strategy and counter the CCP’s decades-long chokehold on critical mineral supply chains. I’m proud to see this bill advance out of committee, so we can unleash the next generation of American energy dominance.” Representative Ami Bera added: “Critical minerals power everything from our defense industrial base to the advanced technologies that drive our economy, yet China continues to maintain an alarming chokehold over the global critical mineral supply chain. I’m proud to partner with Congresswoman Young Kim on this effort to align diplomatic and financing tools in cooperation with our allies and partners to build secure and resilient critical mineral supply chains that will support American competitiveness and strengthen our national security for decades to come.”
The bill formalizes U.S. participation in international efforts such as the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE), creates Energy Security Pacts among agencies, establishes a Bureau of Energy Security at the State Department, expands workforce development programs related to mining engineering, strengthens diplomatic training in energy security topics, and encourages appointment of a Special Advisor for Critical Minerals.
Young Kim is currently serving in Congress representing California’s 40th district after replacing Gil Cisneros in 2021; she previously served in the California State Assembly from 2014–2016 according to bioguide.congress.gov. She was born in Incheon, South Korea in 1962 before moving to La Habra; she graduated from University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree according to bioguide.congress.gov.
A range of organizations have expressed support for the DOMINANCE Act including ACC Action, ACCF, ACMA, AELI, Atlantic Council, Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action), ClearPath Action among others.
