U.S. needs to reduce import of metals, minerals

American manufacturing is more dependent on the metals and minerals access than ever before. Yet, we are tied with Papau New Guinea for the time it takes to permit a new mine. Seven to 10 years is the average delay period. Waiting for technology metals will severely hamper our ability to innovate our advance weapons systems that are increasingly metals intensive.

The U.S. has domestic resources for 18 of those 19 metals and minerals that we now exclusively import from abroad. However, a maze of government regulations has made mining them too difficult.

Reform could begin with streamlining the...