NABTU President Urges Support for Domestic Critical Minerals Bill

The Facts -

North America's Building Trades Unions Call for Support of Domestic Mining Initiatives

Washington, D.C. – January 16, 2026 – Sean McGarvey, President of North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU), has expressed a compelling stance on the nation's approach to critical mineral imports versus domestic production. This comes amid a pivotal moment for the country's industrial strategy.

According to McGarvey, the choice is clear: "Our nation is at a crucial inflection point. Will we continue to import critical minerals from less-than-reputable nations, or will we do what we must to address our industrial shortcomings?" This query highlights the urgency of the decision between reliance on foreign sources and bolstering local capabilities.

For decades, union members have been anticipating the realization of American mining projects, which remain mired in bureaucratic challenges. McGarvey emphasizes the significance of these developments: “Our members have waited decades for certain American mining projects to come to fruition. While these projects should not be blindly authorized, we hope that Congress recognizes that the longer these projects languish in bureaucratic red tape, the longer our members go without receiving a paycheck for their work in making our nation safer and more independent.”

The introduction of H.J. Res. 140 aims to address this issue by advocating for the responsible extraction of American minerals, thus providing robust support to domestic industries. McGarvey asserts that to facilitate industrial growth, it is essential to remove unnecessary bans that hinder progress. He commended the efforts of Rep. Stauber for his dedication to resolving the barriers that prevent workers from securing employment.

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