{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-senators-to-dow-invest-in-high-grade-arkansas-lithium", "Cotton, Senators to DoW: Invest in High-Grade Arkansas Lithium", "2026-05-12", "2026", "2026-05", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353\n\nMay 12, 2026\n\nCotton, Senators to DoW: Invest in High-Grade Arkansas Lithium\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Senator John Boozman (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to Department of War Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) Director David Lorch. The letter requests that domestic lithium production, particularly in the Smackover Formation, be treated as a priority investment. Domestic production from the Smackover Formation in south Arkansas would reduce dependence on foreign-controlled lithium, a change vital to American national security. Classifying domestic lithium production as a priority investment would allow for streamlined, non-standard deal structures to help ensure Department investment strategies adequately fund this crucial need.\n\nIn part, the Senators wrote:\n\n\u201cWe write seeking clarity about the Department\u2019s prioritization and support of domestic critical mineral supply chains, particularly lithium resources. Lithium is foundational to the precision munitions and advanced weapons systems that underpin American military superiority. Critical systems and platforms such as Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, Patriot Batteries/PAC-3 missiles, Hellfire missiles, and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems, among many others, rely on lithium-based battery technologies for guidance, power, and reliability.\n\nThe Smackover Formation is a brine-rich geological stratum stretching across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Recent assessments indicate the Formation may represent one of the most significant lithium brine deposits in the Western Hemisphere. Domestic production from this region could materially reduce American dependence on foreign-controlled lithium sources and provide a reliable upstream supply for domestic defense manufacturers.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nMay 12, 2026\n\nMr. David Lorch\n\nDirector, Office of Strategic Capital\n\nUnited States Department of War\n\n3030 Defense Pentagon\n\nWashington, DC, 20301\n\nDear Director Lorch,\n\nWe write seeking clarity about the Department\u2019s prioritization and support of domestic critical mineral supply chains, particularly lithium resources. Lithium is foundational to the precision munitions and advanced weapons systems that underpin American military superiority. Critical systems and platforms such as Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, Patriot Batteries/PAC-3 missiles, Hellfire missiles, and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems, among many others, rely on lithium-based battery technologies for guidance, power, and reliability.\n\nThe Smackover Formation is a brine-rich geological stratum stretching across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Recent assessments indicate the Formation may represent one of the most significant lithium brine deposits in the Western Hemisphere. Domestic production from this region could materially reduce American dependence on foreign-controlled lithium sources and provide a reliable upstream supply for domestic defense manufacturers.\n\nWe know you share our conviction that allowing strategic vulnerabilities in our mineral supply chains is not an option that the United States can afford. We urge the Department to treat Smackover lithium development as a priority investment target worthy of OSC engagement, Title III Defense Production Act authorities, and other available financing mechanisms. We respectfully request answers to the below questions by May 25, 2026.\n\nWhat criteria and process does OSC employ to evaluate and rank critical minerals for prioritized investment or industrial base support? What protections are in place to ensure a long-term strategic commitment that withstands short term shifts?\n\nIs lithium designated as a high-priority material in the Department\u2019s critical minerals framework? If so, how is that prioritization reflected in OSC\u2019s project pipeline? If not, what is the rationale?\n\nWhat is the Department\u2019s coordination process to ensure critical mineral supply chains efforts are synchronized? What mechanisms exist to ensure OSC\u2019s financing activities are aligned with the requirements of the military services and combatant commands?\n\nHas OSC (or other offices within the Department) coordinated with other agencies, to include the Department of Energy, United States Geological Survey, and Department of Commerce, on domestic critical mineral development? If so, how is that coordination structured? How are investment signals and strategic priorities communicated?\n\nWhat legislative provisions or resources would materially enhance OSC's ability to support lithium projects such as those in the Smackover Formation?\n\nThe urgency of this issue demands we move with speed. We are confident that the Department shares this urgency. We look forward to working with you on this issue of critical importance.\n\nSincerely,\n\nTom Cotton\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-13T06:12:22Z", "2026-05-13T06:13:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-senators-to-dow-invest-in-high-grade-arkansas-lithium"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6617519538849592, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}