Congresswoman Lee Celebrates Multibillion-Dollar Federal Investment into MP Materials, Las Vegas-Based Critical Mineral Company
Above: (L to R) Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Chief Communications Officer Matt Sloustcher and Congresswoman Susie Lee
Click HERE for video of the press conference
LAS VEGAS, NV – Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) joined MP Materials Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Chief Communications Officer Matt Sloustcher to celebrate a multibillion-dollar commitment from the Department of Defense (DoD) to MP Materials, America’s only fully integrated rare earth producer, headquartered in Las Vegas.
“Rare earth magnets are one of the most critical components in advanced technology systems, from our phones to aircraft used by the Department of Defense. That’s why it’s essential that we develop the U.S. rare earth magnet supply chain and reduce our dependency on foreign countries for rare earths,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “We must make America’s rare earth resurgence a bipartisan priority. I look forward to continue working with the DoD, MP Materials, and others to continue to grow and strengthen our domestic supply chain of critical minerals in an environmentally-conscious manner, while also securing hundreds of jobs for Nevadans.”
“We are grateful to Rep. Lee for long recognizing the strategic importance of our work—not just for the national interest, but for Southern Nevada,” said MP Materials Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Chief Communications Officer Matt Sloustcher. “We also appreciate the bipartisan consensus on this issue, which is helping to accelerate progress.”
The commitment from the DoD will allow MP Materials to accelerate domestic production of rare earth materials and magnets, including the processing of samarium, a rare earth element used in military applications like fighter jets and missiles. Currently, samarium production is entirely controlled by China, posing serious national security and supply chain resiliency concerns.
Before DoD announced its commitment, Lee raised the alarm on China’s chokehold on critical minerals and asked DoD to commit to investing in American-based companies, like MP Materials, which process critical minerals. MP Materials has invested $1 billion of its own capital since 2020, and employs more than 800 Americans, 550 of whom live in southern Nevada. As part of its expansion, MP Materials expects to add hundreds of jobs to the region in the coming years.
Congresswoman Lee also secured $10 million in the House’s FY26 Defense funding bill for a plant that recycles waste products generated in the rare earth production process, helping to lower production costs and make the process more environmentally conscious.
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