I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2184 
To establish the Rare Earth Policy Task Force, to direct the Secretary 
of the Interior to develop a plan to ensure the long-term supply of 
rare earth materials, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 15, 2011 
Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish the Rare Earth Policy Task Force, to direct 
the Secretary of the Interior to develop a plan to ensure 
the long-term supply of rare earth materials, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rare Earth Policy 
Task Force and Materials Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
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(1) Significant quantities of rare earths are 
used in the production of clean energy technologies, 
including advanced automotive propulsion batteries, 
electric motors, high-efficiency light bulbs, solar pan-
els, and wind turbines. These technologies are used 
to advance the United States energy policy of reduc-
ing dependence on foreign oil and decreasing green-
house gas emissions through expansion of cleaner 
sources of energy. 
(2) Many modern defense technologies such as 
radar and sonar systems, precision-guided weapons, 
cruise missiles, and lasers cannot be built, as de-
signed and specified, without the use of rare earths 
and materials produced from them. 
(3) Rare earths also provide core functionality 
to a variety of high technology applications in com-
puting, pollution abatement, power generation, water 
treatment, oil refining, metal alloying, communica-
tions, health care, agriculture, and other sectors. 
(4) Though at least 40 percent of the world’s 
rare earth reserves are located within the United 
States and its ally nations, our country now depends 
upon imports for nearly 100 percent of its rare earth 
needs. 
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SEC. 3. ACTIONS TO PROMOTE RARE EARTH DEVELOP-
MENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established 
within the Department of the Interior a task force 
to be known as the ‘‘Rare Earth Policy Task Force’’ 
(referred to in this section as the ‘‘Task Force’’), 
which shall report to the President through the Sec-
retary of the Interior. 
(2) COMPOSITION.—The Task Force shall be 
composed of the following: 
(A) The Secretary of the Interior (or a 
designee of such Secretary), who shall serve as 
chair of the Task Force. 
(B) The Secretary of Energy (or a des-
ignee of such Secretary). 
(C) The Secretary of Agriculture (or a des-
ignee of such Secretary). 
(D) The Secretary of Defense (or a des-
ignee of such Secretary). 
(E) The Secretary of Commerce (or a des-
ignee of such Secretary). 
(F) The Secretary of State (or a designee 
of such Secretary). 
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