CHINA, RARE EARTHS, & ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTRUMENTS

Defense Industry Daily is reporting on Rare Earths. They say: "Breaking China’s monopoly: United States Department of Defense considers funding private US providers of rare earth metals used in high-tech weapons to break China’s near monopoly"


In a very real 21st Century way America's national security is at risk. To sustain bleeding edge superiority in high tech manufacturing, much of which is vital to America's national defense, the United States must have access to Rare Earths. H.R. 6160 cannot be permitted to languish in the United States Senate.

On a related front Rocky Mountain Instruments (RMI) just got busted for selling national defense related optics to China without a license. RMI appears to have violated the False Claims Act. Bottom line is that RMI is paying a $1,000,000 fine.

That's not all. The Department of Justice says:

"On June 23, 2009, RMI, a manufacturer of optical components used in laser and imaging applications, filed a petition for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado. To settle the False Claims Act allegations, RMI has agreed to pay the United States $1 million as part of its bankruptcy reorganization. This amount is in addition to a $1 million criminal forfeiture and five year probationary term ordered in connection with RMI’s June 22, 2010, plea of guilty to knowingly and willfully exporting defense articles without a license in United States v. Rocky Mountain Instrument Company, 10-cr-00139-WYD-01 (D. Colo.)."

"Some foreign countries and terrorist organizations are actively seeking sensitive U.S. technology and equipment to advance their weapons systems and other programs," said Tony West, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the Department of Justice. "We are committed to vigorous enforcement of our export control laws, all of which are designed to keep America’s critical technology from falling into the wrong hands."

There are reasons that Chinese corporations gave money to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the apparent attempt to influence today's elections. I say let the Department of Justice make a full investigation of the Chamber of Commerce. Treason and espionage may well be afoot!

THE CASE AGAINST LYNN JENKINS CHAPTER 45 - SHE VOTES AGAINST AMERICA'S NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOR CHINA, AGAIN!!!

This is Lynn Jenkins, she does not represent us

H.R. 6160 is the Rare Earths and Critical Materials Revitalization Act of 2010. What, you may ask, does that have to do with the price of tea in China? That is the exact correct question. China is dominating the world supply of "rare earths" and directly undermines our national security.

Representative Kathleen A. Dahlkemper

The author of the legislation is Pennsylvania's Democratic Representative Kathleen A. Dahlkemper. Her remarks on H.R. 6160 can be found at http://dahlkemper.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=319:dahlkemper-statement-on-fighting-chinese-currency-manipulation-and-chinese-dominance-of-rare-earths&catid=9:press-releases&Itemid=9. I have excerpted Representative Dahlkemper's remarks here.

“What would happen to our national defense if we could no longer build a jet engine? Vehicle batteries? Advanced targeting systems? What are the chances that we become energy independent if we cannot produce hybrid cars, wind turbines and other alternative energy products? What would happen to our economy if the technologies we depend on to make businesses work are no longer available? 

“These are questions we would have to answer if China cut off our supply of rare earth materials—vital components to nearly every piece of advanced technology we use in our national defense and throughout businesses and industry.

“For the past decade, the United States has been almost entirely dependent on China for its supply of rare earth materials, despite the fact that we have an abundant reserve of these materials within our own borders. China currently accounts for as much as 97 percent of the world’s available supply of rare earth materials.

“But they are reducing the amount of these materials going into the global market. Just this summer, China announced it would cut its rare earths exports for the second half of 2010 by 72 percent.

“The bottom line is this: China is cornering the market on rare earth materials and we are falling behind. That is why we need to act now to begin the process of creating our own domestic supply of rare earth materials so the United States is never dependent on China—or on any other country—for crucial components for our national security.

“My bill is a bipartisan plan to jump start U.S. research and development in rare earth materials to improve our ability to find, extract, process and use rare earths to improve products. We want to ultimately create a domestic supply of rare earths.

“My legislation will foster a strong rare earths industry here in the United States. The scope of this bill spans the full supply chain, from exploration to mining to manufacturing. It will reduce risk in financing new rare earths production facilities by guaranteeing loans to companies with new processing and refining technologies.

“China has stated clearly that foreign firms that move their manufacturing capacity onto Chinese soil will have no trouble procuring rare earth materials. That’s just another way American manufacturing jobs are being lured overseas.

“That has to stop. We need to make things right here in our country and give those great manufacturing jobs to American men and women here.

“This legislation is both urgent and timely. Just last week, China reportedly cut off Japan’s supply of rare earths in the wake of a territory conflict.

“This is a clear warning sign, and we would be foolish to ignore it. The GAO reports that it may take up to 15 years to rebuild the U.S. rare earth supply chain. Delaying the seed money to begin this process only prolongs our dependency on China.

“I am pleased that representatives on both sides of the aisle supported my plan to jump start our own rare earths supply chain, promote U.S. global competitiveness and ensure our national defense is Made in America.

“So, yesterday was a very good day for manufacturers in Western Pennsylvania and a good day for U.S. global competitiveness.” 

Lynn Jenkins voted against our national security on roll call vote 555. The Rare Earths and Critical Materials Revitalization Act of 2010 passed the House by a vote of 325 to 98.

On back to back votes, roll call votes 554 and 555, Lynn Jenkins has stood with China against America's economic and national security. Lynn Jenkins does not represent us.