U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) has been named the new Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, under the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Palmer and the committee will address matters related to soil, air, noise, and water contamination while also focusing on emergency environmental response.

“I’m pleased to have the opportunity to chair the Subcommittee on Environment, which has jurisdiction over critical minerals and rare earth elements,” said Palmer. “Dependence on China for processing and refining critical minerals, and in particular rare elements, has become a major national security and economic security issue for the United States and our allies.”

“I look forward to working with the other members of the committee to protect our economic and national security by eliminating our dependence on China for refined critical minerals and rare earth elements.”

RELATED: WSJ: Gary Palmer influential in Trump’s energy policy plans for next administration

U.S. Rep. John Joyce (PA-13) has been appointed as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Rep. Palmer’s previously-held position.

According to the committee’s website, it has jurisdiction over the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, the Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act – including Superfund and the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, the Solid Waste Disposal Act, the Toxic Substance Control Act, and the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program.

Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten

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