Palmer Unveils Bill to Guarantee Trump’s Orders and Curb U.S. Reliance on China

U.S. Representative Gary Palmer (R‑AL6) has introduced the Securing America’s Mineral Supply (SAMS) Act of 2025, a bill designed to codify five of President Trump’s executive orders into law. The legislation will accelerate U.S. energy independence and restore domestic critical‑mineral production.

“For four years, the Biden-Harris administration waged war on American energy and did nothing to make the U.S. less dependent on adversarial nations like China for critical minerals. This has become a serious threat to our national security,” Rep. Palmer said. “Upon taking office, President Trump took immediate action to correct the previous administration’s mistakes, and we must codify these actions to prevent future administrations from overturning the Executive Orders.”

“Dependence on China for critical minerals is an undeniable threat to our national security. This bill is just one step toward ending that dependency, Palmer concluded.

The SAMS Act of 2025 is cosponsored by Representatives Barry Moore (AL-01), Tim Burchett (TN-2), August Pfluger (TX-11), Don Bacon (NE-2), Keith Self (TX-3), John Rose (TN-6), Rob Wittman (VA-1), Michael Rulli (OH-6), Warren Davidson (OH-8), Brad Finstad (MN-1), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), John James (MI-10), Daniel Webster (FL-11), Pat Harrigan (NC-10), Ken Calvert (CA-41), Troy Balderson (OH-12), Craig Goldman (TX-12), Brian Jack (GA-03), Jeff Hurd (CO-03), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Tim Moore (NC-14), Buddy Carter (GA-01), Eli Crane (AZ-02), Marlin Stutzman (IN-03), Mark Harris (NC-08), Joe Wilson (SC-02), Mark Green (TN-07), Tracey Mann (KS-01), Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15), Brad Knott (NC-13), Robert B. Aderholt (AL-04), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Robert E. Latta (OH-05), Tom Barrett (MI-07), Mike Haridopolos (FL-08), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Doug LaMalfa (CA-1), Byron Donalds (FL-19), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), David Rouzer (NC-7), and Mike Flood (NE-01).

Critical minerals and rare-earth elements—vital for smartphones, EV batteries, power grids, and defense systems—are now largely produced outside the U.S. The country once led global output, but by the late 1990s most mining and processing shifted overseas. Today, none of the nine major rare‑earth refineries in the Western Hemisphere are in U.S. territory: eight sit in China, one in Malaysia.

The SAMS Act seeks to anchor Trump-era policies, shielding them from reversal under future administrations. It targets codifying these executive orders:

1. E.O. 13817 – Federal strategy for critical minerals
2. E.O. 13953 – Securing supply chains and boosting domestic mining
3. E.O. 14154 – Unleashing American energy
4. E.O. 14241 – Immediate steps to ramp up mineral production
5. E.O. 14272 – Strengthening national security via Section 232 actions

Palmer, who now Chairs the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, said he’s poised to use his leadership role to reinforce American energy security.