CHAIRMAN SMITH OPENING STATEMENT AT HEARING ON STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO SECURE CRITICAL RESOURCES & SUPPLY CHAINS: AMERICA CANNOT LET COMMUNIST CHINA CONTROL THE RESOURCES OUR ECONOMY & NATIONAL SECURITY DEPEND ON

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- The House Ways & Means Committee Chairman issued the following news release:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) delivered the following opening statement at a Committee hearing on Strategic Partnerships to Secure Critical Resources and Supply Chains, held one week after the Chairman led a congressional delegation to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia - three nations situated between China and Russia and at the center of the world's critical mineral supply.

As prepared for delivery.

"Today this Committee meets to discuss how we confront a problem America has failed to address for far too long: our dangerous dependence on Communist China for the critical minerals our entire soc...