To increase the production of rare earth elements and to remove barriers to access of rare earth elements domestically and internationally; to increase the affordability and trade of rare earth minerals; to increase the affordability and availability of technologically and environmentally advanced products made with rare earth minerals all for the betterment of people’s lives and the environment in which they live.
RARE advocates for policies and legislation that support the following critical rare earth material goals:
1. Creation of a national stockpile for rare earth materials to assure a long-term supply, thereby reducing risks to national security and military defense and increasing availability and opportunities for development of renewable energy products and innovative technologies. (See, e.g., H.R. 4866, the Rare Earths Supply-Chain Technology and Resources Transformation Act of 2010; S. 3521, the Rare Earths Supply Technology and Resources Transformation Act of 2010.)
2. Promote research and development of rare earth materials in renewable energy products and innovative technologies. (See, e.g., H.R. 6160, the Rare Earths and Critical Materials Revitalization Act of 2010; H.R. 2284, the Responsible Electronics Recycling Act of 2011.)
3. Promote domestic and international (beyond China) mining and processing of rare earth materials, through expedited permitting and appropriate trade policies. (See, e.g., S. 3521, the Rare Earths Supply Technology and Resources Transformation Act of 2010.)
(For a helpful summary of important rare earth material issues and federal legislation, please see the Congressional Research Service’s September 2010 report, Rare Earth Elements: The Global Supply Chain.)
RARE believes that the development of rare earth materials should be conducted sustainably. RARE’s policy committee will work with member companies to develop an international set of principles for mining and processing rare earth materials to which signing companies will commit to meeting:
1. Ethical corporate governance
2. Fundamental human rights recognition
3. Transparent engagement with communities and governments
4. Robust standards for environmental, health, and safety protection
5. Biodiversity conservation
6. Responsible product design and life-cycle management, and
7. Economic prosperity.
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