FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact: press@forgingthefutureusa.com

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Washington, D.C., January 21, 2026 — America’s ability to compete in aluminum, iron, steel, and critical minerals — industries essential to both the economy and national defense — needs to be secured and strengthened. In response, industry and policy leaders have launched Forging the Future, a first-of-its-kind nonpartisan coalition calling for urgent federal action to reinforce U.S. manufacturing in these critical areas. The coalition brings together heavyweights across the industry and policy spectrum including the Aluminum Association, representing more than 120 companies in the U.S. aluminum value chain; Electra, a US-based clean iron manufacturer; Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE), a leading voice on U.S. energy security; ClearPath, a nonprofit advancing conservative clean energy solutions; and the American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF), a bipartisan policy organization that focuses on enhancing American competitiveness. This coalition is united by a common goal: strengthening and expanding America’s defense industrial base for the 21st century.

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“The U.S. used to be the world’s top producer of steel and aluminum, but energy scarcity and Chinese market manipulation have eroded these essential domestic industries,” said Joe Quinn, Executive Director of SAFE’s Center for Strategic Industrial Materials. “Investing and innovating in advanced and efficient processes, alongside an energy dominance strategy, can ensure we rebuild and have the metals capacity necessary for our economic and national security.”

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"We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a comprehensive federal policy framework that leverages smart energy and trade policy to strengthen American competitiveness," said George David Banks, President of ACCF. "The work of helping shape a new American economic security paradigm is exactly what this coalition will do."

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That urgency is echoed by coalition members who say the stakes are too high to ignore.

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“Aluminum underpins both America’s national security and everyday life — from defense systems and energy infrastructure to vehicles, packaging and consumer goods,” said Charles Johnson, President & CEO of the Aluminum Association. “Today, the industry is at an inflection point: generational growth in mid- and downstream segments coupled with new focus and investment in upstream smelting gives us a clear opportunity to rebuild and strengthen the full domestic supply chain. Getting this right will ensure that American manufacturers can compete and win for decades to come.”

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ClearPath emphasized the importance of innovation and bipartisan solutions to strengthening America’s industrial core. "America has been a global industrial leader for 250 years. Maintaining manufacturing dominance in industries such as steel and aluminum depends on access to abundant and affordable power. This is an exciting moment for both the manufacturing and power sectors, and we believe the U.S. can power a manufacturing renaissance by scaling up affordable and reliable energy sources such as nuclear and geothermal," said Jeremy Harrell, CEO of ClearPath.

The stakes are real: Steel production has declined by one-third since peak levels in the 1970s, while imports now account for over 50% of the U.S. aluminum market. Indicative of this challenge, sixteen aluminum smelters have closed in states around the country over the last 30 years. Despite decades of decline, Congress has failed to pass major legislation to support these industries. Without action, the United States risks falling behind in industries that are vital to our economic competitiveness and national defense.

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The coalition is calling on Congress and the administration to advance bipartisan legislation that will:

• Protect national security by investing in critical industries like aluminum, iron, steel, and other critical minerals.
• Support American workers by creating middle-class jobs and funding workforce training.
• Ensure smart trade with durable, transparent laws that hold foreign competitors accountable for unfair practices.
• Strengthen U.S. manufacturing by taking federal action to help companies expand and compete on a level playing field with imports.
• Foster innovation with policies that drive breakthrough technologies and efficiency.
• Advance energy security through access to efficient, affordable, and reliable energy.

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The coalition will drive these priorities forward by engaging directly with policymakers, building bipartisan support in Congress, and working with stakeholders across the country to secure America’s industrial future.

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For more, visit www.forgingthefutureusa.com or contact press@forgingthefutureusa.com

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Forging the Future is a nonpartisan coalition of organizations, companies, and associations committed to bipartisan federal action to strengthen and expand the foundation of America’s defense industrial base. We advocate for policies that strengthen the global competitiveness of U.S. aluminum, iron, steel and other critical materials and minerals — while restoring and growing America’s workforce.

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