Congressional Updates from Congressman Gary Palmer

Dr. Heath W. Padgett
Jul 19, 2025
3 min read

Vestavia Hills, AL – July 12, 2025 – Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL) addressed the MidAlabama Republican Club with major updates from D.C. He credited President Trump with historic policy wins within his first 6 months in office, emphasizing the incredible pace of action and the historic reset in the Middle East. For areas of immediate attention, he emphasized U.S. vulnerability to China in rare earth mineral refining. Palmer highlighted legislation to extend the Defense Production Act and proposed building refineries near old coal plants powered by modular nuclear reactors. He defended the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” refuting a $3.3 trillion deficit claim, and emphasized Medicaid reforms requiring able-bodied adults to work. Big priorities? Energy security, rural healthcare, and cutting federal waste (1).

Congressman Palmer Leads Charge on National Security Through Domestic Critical Minerals

As the new chairman of the Environment Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Congressman Gary Palmer delivered a pointed warning about America’s overdependence on China and other foreign nations for critical minerals—vital inputs for smartphones, AI chips, electric grids, and defense technologies (2). He has really taken the lead in Congress on this issue, working with the President to declare these minerals as critical to our national security so as to evoke the Defense Production Act and expedite permitting and other regulatory processes.

“These are not just economic commodities—they are national security linchpins,” Palmer stated, citing U.S. Geological Survey data showing 100% import reliance on twelve key minerals and over 50% on another twenty-nine (2). He decried the “burdensome permitting and regulatory roadblocks” that extend mine-to-refinery timelines to ten-to-twenty years—a death sentence for domestic production (2).

Palmer stressed that even when raw materials are mined in the U.S., most of these are shipped to China for refining—the country controls an estimated 94% of global rare earth refining capacity (3). Compounded with the race for AI and quantum computing development, whoever controls the minerals controls the development of emerging technology.

To counter the U.S.’s over-dependence on China, he called for:

Streamlined permitting to match mining and refining approvals simultaneously,
Investment in smelters and processing facilities,
Exploration of mineral recovery from coal ash and electronic waste, and
A coordinated Western Hemisphere critical minerals alliance (4, 5).

Harnessing Nuclear Energy to Power American

Manufacturing

During the meeting, Palmer underscored that refining rare earth elements demands massive,

stable electricity supply. He proposed repurposing retired coal plant sites—already equipped with

transmission infrastructure—for small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), which can be built in

factories and deployed rapidly (1).

He pointed to nuclear vessels as proof that modern SMRs are safe and efficient. With visionary planning, they could provide the baseline power necessary to support critical mineral processing and data center expansion, vastly improving U.S. energy security and resiliency (1).

Defending the “One Big Beautiful Bill” & Medicaid Reforms

Congressman Palmer defended the GOP’s major fiscal package—the “One Big Beautiful Bill”— by challenging the CBO's estimate of a $3.3 trillion deficit increase. He clarified that, when measured against baseline projections, the actual impact is a $500 billion reduction, especially once permanent provisions like no tax on tips and enhanced child tax credits are factored in (1).

He also discussed key Medicaid reforms, emphasizing work, volunteer, or education

requirements for able-bodied adults and the removal of approximately 4 million illegal aliens

from tax-payer subsidized government assistance (1). Furthermore, he has pushed for block

grants with state-designed reinvestment plans that are tied to measurable benchmarks—an

approach that allows states like Alabama to prioritize rural hospitals and long-term care facilities

(6).

Palmer suggested that if everything he pushed for had been included in the bill, an estimated $1.2 trillion would have been saved over ten years (1).

The Road Ahead: Communication & Conservative Leadership

Palmer emphasized the problem of misinformation and the need for improved communication among conservatives, giving an anecdote of a waitress he talked to recently who did not think she was eligible for no tax on tips. He encouraged grassroots engagement and how everyone has a role to play in educating the public on what is really going on (1).

Conclusion: A Blueprint for Long-Term American Security

& Prosperity

Congressman Gary Palmer’s strategy seeks to:

Rebuild America’s critical mineral processing capacity to secure supply chains and
national defense,
Modernize energy infrastructure via nuclear power,
Control spending and entitlement programs through thoughtful Medicaid reform and
fraud prevention, and
Empower rural communities and small businesses via regulatory relief and local
investment.