Tester Calls on Biden Administration to Apply Tax Credit to American Mining As Part of His Continued Push to Support Montanans at Sibanye-Stillwater

In new push to Secretary of Treasury, Senator urges Department to put American workers first and apply 45X tax credit to American mining

U.S. Senator Jon Tester today is calling on the Biden Administration to put American workers first and apply a tax credit to American mining and the production of domestic minerals. Tester’s call is part of his continued efforts to support Montana miners impacted by the announcement from Sibanye-Stillwater that they will undergo a restructuring that includes layoffs at its Montana operations.

Tester’s letter specifically calls on the Biden Administration to follow Congressional intent as written in the Inflation Reduction Act and apply the 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit to the production of critical minerals.

“The Administration must do more to support the manufacturing of critical minerals here at home and prevent the world from becoming dependent on Russia for palladium, ” Tester wrote. “That’s why I am asking that you finalize the 45X tax credit and ensure that the Sibanye-Stillwater mine is an eligible recipient.”

Tester concluded by calling for action and writing that there is “only one acceptable outcome” for the final rule: “Rebuilding domestic manufacturing, onshoring supply chains, and reducing America’s dependence on foreign adversaries remains critically important to our economy and national security. There is only one acceptable outcome when this rule is finalized and that is that the credit includes domestic mining and recycling consistent with the legislation as written.”

Within hours of Sibanye-Stillwater’s announcement, Tester personally spoke with Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo and pressed him on the need for the Biden Administration to support the impacted workers. Tester also introduced a bill to ban Russian importation of palladium indefinitely.

Tester has long fought to rebuild domestic manufacturing and onshore supply chains to reduce America’s dependence on foreign adversaries like China and Russia. In February, Tester sent a letter to Department of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen expressing concerns that domestic critical mineral production at places like Sibanye-Stillwater was being curbed by reliance on foreign adversaries like China.

Watch Tester’s full statement on the Sibanye-Stillwater mine layoffs HERE.

Read Tester’s full letter to Secretary Yellen HERE.