Press Releases

Today, 50 Members of Congress and stakeholders throughout the country sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump urging him to take action to protect our national security interests by combating our foreign dependence on uranium.

The letter states in part, "The U.S. has become too dependent on foreign powers for these essential components of our economy and defense."

"There is no reason America should be importing 97-99% of the uranium necessary for domestic reactors from foreign countries when we have an ample supply here at home that will create good-paying jobs and be mined under higher standards that protect our environment."

"Acting in support of critical minerals, clean energy, American jobs and national security will revitalize the entire domestic fuel cycle, benefit local economies and put America back on the path to reclaiming the important role of global nuclear leadership that has been taken by our strategic adversaries."

"We urge you to use your authority to take back from Moscow and Beijing control of America’s nuclear power plants."

Background:

In April, Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross sent the White House a report generated by a 9-month long Section 232 investigation into the national security impacts of imported uranium.

Ur-Energy and Energy Fuels, the two Colorado-based companies that requested the Department of Commerce investigation, recommended a quota that reserves a relatively small 25 percent of the U.S. market for the domestic uranium mining industry.

Domestic production for calendar year 2019 is on pace to be a fraction of 1% of total demand and we will import roughly 99% of what we need from foreign countries; namely foreign adversaries Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and China.

U.S. utilities rely on foreign sources for 99 percent of the uranium they use to fuel the nuclear power plants that provide 20 percent of the country’s electricity. Uranium also fuels our nuclear Navy. But instead of buying from the domestic uranium mining companies that once thrived in the West, utilities are enriching adversarial countries like Russia and China. Following their carefully orchestrated geopolitical plan, Russia and its allies flood the global market with uranium from state-owned companies, making it impossible for America and other free market economies to compete. Meanwhile, quietly and gradually, China has been buying up previously free market uranium mines to control global supply. 

The letter was signed by 26 Members of Congress including: Reps. Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Paul Gosar (AZ-04), Rob Bishop (UT-01), Doug Lamborn (CO-05), Don Young (AK-At Large), Louie Gohmert (TX-01), Chris Stewart (UT-02), Steve King (IA-04), Mark Meadows (NC-11), Ted Yoho (FL-03), Matt Gaetz (FL-01), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Steve Watkins (KS-02), Paul Cook (CA-08), Kelly Armstrong (ND-At Large), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Roger Marshall (KS-01), Scott Tipton (CO-03), Liz Cheney (WY-At Large), Pete Stauber (MN-08), Duncan Hunter (CA-50), Jody Hice (GA-10), Vicky Hartzler (MO-04), Markwayne Mullin (OK-02), and Debbie Lesko (AZ-08).

In addition to the signatories, this letter is endorsed by the following individuals and organizations throughout the country: American Exploration & Mining Association; National Mining Association; Conservatives for Property Rights; Arizona Rock Products Association; Colorado Mining Association; Energy Fuels; enCore Energy Corp; Golden Vertex Corp; Idaho Mining Association; Laramide Resources LTD; Uranium Energy Corp, Ur-Energy; Arizona Liberty; Citizens for America – Arizona Chapter; New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association; New Mexico Wool Growers, Inc.; New Mexico Federal Lands Council; Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative; Texas Mining and Reclamation Association; Wyoming Mining Association; Executive Director of Range Association of Municipalities & Schools (RAMS) Steve Giorgi; Chairman, CEO and President of Up North Jobs Inc. Gerald Tyler; President of Americans for Limited Government Rick Manning, Yavapai County Supervisor District 1 Rowle P. Simmons; Yavapai County Supervisor District 2 Thomas Thurman.

The full letter can be read HERE