Sens. Cruz, Cornyn Introduce Bill to Help Secure U.S. Critical Mineral Supply Chain

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced the Army Organic Industrial Base Mineral Partnerships Act of 2026. The bill authorizes the U.S. Army to partner with private sector companies to drill for lithium brine at Red River Army Depot and other Army Organic Industrial Base (OIB) facilities nationwide.

Sen. Cruz said, "Red River Army Depot sits atop the Smackover Formation, which is one of the largest lithium brine reserves in the United States. The reserves are a critical strategic asset, and enable the production of drones, communication systems, and other systems necessary for America's national security. Developing the reserves will make Texarkana the Army's premier hub for lithium battery production, and will strengthen America's critical mineral supply chain. I look forward to advancing this legislation."

Sen. Cornyn said, "China controls the lion's share of the global supply of critical minerals, posing a serious and imminent threat to our national security. By empowering Army Depots to partner with private entities to extract critical minerals and allowing them to reinvest profits toward mission success, this legislation would reduce dependence on foreign adversaries and bolster our defense, energy, and advanced manufacturing capabilities."

U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas-01) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

Rep. Moran, "America's economic strength and national security depend on our ability to secure critical minerals. By allowing the Army to partner with private industry to extract these minerals we are investing in America's leadership-and ensuring we never cede that ground to our adversaries or regulatory burdens. I am proud to work with Senator Cruz to introduce this legislation which utilizes America's resources to fuel our success."

Read the bill text here.

BACKGROUND

The United States relies heavily on imports for critical minerals, with limited domestic mining and processing capacity, creating a strategic vulnerability. Red River Army Depot, located on over 15,000 acres within the lithium rich Smackover Formation, presents an opportunity to strengthen domestic supply. Each of the U.S. Army's organic industrial base sites has the potential to become mineral hubs for the military.

The Army Organic Industrial Base Mineral Partnerships Act of 2026 would allow the Army to partner with private industry to extract and process critical minerals, including enabling lithium brine extraction to bolster U.S. supply chains and national security.