WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus, hosted U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm for a Climate Solutions Caucus meeting to discuss how Congress and the administration can work together to bolster America’s critical minerals supply chains and the development of reliable clean energy technologies. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) also attended the meeting. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office Director Jigar Shah participated in the meeting alongside Secretary Granholm.
“Every pocket of America is taking part in this historic and unprecedented opportunity to build and rebuild domestic clean energy supply chains thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and leadership from Congress,” said Secretary Granholm. “I appreciate the continued partnership of the Climate Solutions Caucus as we move forward to create reliable and secure domestic supply chains for critical minerals and a range of other key energy technologies that will lower costs and bolster U.S. energy security by reducing reliance on China and other nations that do not hold our values.”
“Critical minerals are essential to the technologies that drive security and economic growth in the 21st century, and a secure supply of critical minerals underpins our ability to deploy clean energy technologies around the world,” said Senator Coons. “Investments in our domestic critical minerals supply chains, coupled with cooperation with our allies, will help us meet our climate goals, reinforce our national security, and create good-paying jobs. It was a pleasure to welcome Secretary Granholm to join our Bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus meeting for a discussion of how Congress can work in a bipartisan fashion to reduce our reliance on foreign adversaries like China for critical minerals and boost sustainable domestic mining and refining practices. I look forward to continuing bipartisan discussions with my colleagues on how we can strengthen our critical mineral supply chains and keep America competitive in the 21st century.”
“With the Bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus, we’ve created a forum for bipartisan discussion centered on solutions rather than politics, and I thank Secretary Granholm for sharing her perspective. I am glad to be able to bring my experience as a Main Street business owner to the conversation about how to strengthen America’s critical minerals and reduce our reliance on China without increasing the debt burden on our kids and grandkids,”said Senator Braun.
The Bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus is a group of seven senators from both parties that promotes bipartisan discussion about climate policy and advocates for Congress to play a central role in addressing the challenge. Since launching in late 2019, the caucus has held meetings with a variety of stakeholders to discuss their concerns and priorities for federal climate policy and opportunities for collaboration. For more about the caucus’ activities, please visit the caucus website here.
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