FILE© 25News Now
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KCTV) - A handful of U.S. Senators from around the Midwest have urged the Department of the Interior to reinstate one nutrient and add another to a list of the nation's critical minerals.
U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) has announced that he has joined Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) as well as other members of the Senate Agriculture Committee to urge the U.S. Department of the Interior to reinstate potash and add phosphate to the U.S. Critical Minerals List.
"The United States must address the growing risks to this supply chain, including a return to domestic production of potash as quickly as possible," the Senators wrote in a letter to Secretary Doug Burgum. "In contrast to potash, phosphate is more abundant in the U.S. Even so, we are heavily reliant on imports… Adding phosphate to the U.S. Critical Minerals List would be an important step in strengthening domestic fertilizer manufacturing, stabilizing and securing this critical supply chain."
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Marshall said the lawmakers expressed that the designation would support domestic production and strengthen supply chains. He said the move would take steps to protect food security and stabilize the market for farmers.
"At the very heart of this issue are the American farmers who work tirelessly to feed Americans and much of the world. Fertilizers containing potash and phosphate are essential to maintaining soil fertility, improving crop yields, and ensuring consistent food production," the Senators continued. "Without access to a stable and affordable supply of these minerals, farmers face higher costs, reduced yields, and increased uncertainty-challenges that threaten their livelihoods and the food security of millions of American families."
